The 3·15 Youth Literary Award was jointly organized by Kyungnam University (KU) and the Society of 3·15 Democracy Movement, and hosted by the KU Newspaper (KUN). It inherits the spirit of 'freedom, democracy, and justice' embodied by the March 15th Democratic Rally, the first democratization movement in modern Korean history. Established in 2020, the award aims to provide young people with opportunities to create literature.
The 1st 3·15 Youth Literary Award Ceremony, held in May 2020, was attended by KU President Park Jae Kyu, President of the Society of 3·15 Democracy Movement Kim Jang-hee, Director of Center for University News and Press Jung Eun-sang, Vice President of the Society of 3·15 Democracy Movement Joo Imhwan, Executive Director Byeon Jong-min, and other related officials. The award recipients included Lee Eun-ji, a senior majoring in International Trade and Logistics at KU, who won in the poetry category, and Kim Yoo-jin, a senior in the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Dongguk University, who won in the short story category. The ceremony was made even more special by the presence of Jeong Il-keun, Director of the KU Young Writers Academy and chair Director of the Judging Panel; Gang Dong-su, CEO of the Busan Cultural Foundation; poet Lee Jae-seong; and the families of the award recipients, all of whom contributed to the celebratory atmosphere.
KU President Park Jae Kyu said, "I extend my congratulations and encouragement to the students who won the inaugural 3·15 Youth Literary Award in poetry and short stories." He added, "As this literary award aims to inherit the history and values of the March 15 Democratic Rally, I hope you will continue to strive forward and advance in your literary endeavors.”
The 5th 3·15 Youth Literary Award, celebrating the award’s 5th anniversary this year, held a nationwide call for submissions from university students. A total of 162 entries were received in the poetry category, 19 in the short story category, and 5 in the children’s literature category. In the poetry category, the winning work was "Ae-eol" by Cheon Yu-jin, a third-year student in the Korean Language and Literature Department at Yonsei University. In the short story category, the award went to "Day and Room" by Kim Min-kyung, a fourth-year student in the Creative Writing Department at Dankook University. In the children's literature category, the winning work was "Dyeing Fear Yellow!" by Lee Ji-hyun, a third-year student in the Creative Writing Department at Dankook University.
The ceremony was attended and congraturated by Vice President for Academic Affairs Lee Sang-hoon, President of the Society of 3·15 Democracy Movement Joo Imhwan, Director of Center for University News and Press Jung Eun-sang, Vice President Byeon Jong-min, Executive Director Nam Ki-moon, Director of Steering Committee Jeong Il-keun, and Judges Woo Mu-seok and Kim Eun-jung.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Lee Sang-hoon said, "Congratulations to the winners of the 5th 3·15 Youth Literary Award. As this award carries forward the spirit of freedom, justice, and democracy from the March 15 Democratic Rally, I hope the winners will grow into future literary talents for our country.” Additionally, Joo Imhwan, President of the Society of 3·15 Democracy Movement, said, “While AI and digital technologies are transforming the world, the value of literature in soothing the human soul remains unchanged. I encourage you to enhance your literary skills through rich life experiences, reading, and writing. I hope today's award will serve as the first stepping stone for you to carry forward the spirit of freedom, justice, and democracy from the March 15th Democratic Rally and to become writers who uphold the freedom of press and expression.”
Students interested in participating in the 3·15 Youth Literary Award should submit their application documents to the Administrative Support Team at the KU’s Center for University News and Press. Annual announcements and application details can be found on the websites of KU and the Society of 3·15 Democracy Movement. The winner of the poetry category receives a prize of 2.5 million won, the winner of the short story category receives 3.15 million won, and the winner of the children's literature category receives 2 million won.
Youth literature plays a crucial role in the literary field. It captures the voices of the younger generation and offers new perspectives on the changes in times and social issues by fostering creativity and experimental spirit, reflecting the voices of different generations, conveying social messages, expanding literary diversity, and identifying future literary leaders. Therefore, youth literature is not just a platform for young writers to showcase their work, but also a driving force for social change and a crucial element in shaping the future of literature.
