Seoul, Republic of Korea, December 27, 2024 — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK) celebrated emerging talent and cross-cultural exchange at the Mekong-ROK Video Contest awards ceremony held on December 11. The competition showcased creative works highlighting the dynamic relationship between South Korea and the Mekong region nations.
From a competitive field of 62 submissions, six outstanding entries earned recognition for their compelling narratives about Mekong-ROK cooperation and cultural exchange. Vietnamese filmmakers Ha Thu Trang, Pham Quoc Huy, and Nguyen Ngoc Hai claimed the Grand Prize with their documentary “Tale of Rice: MKCF’s Journey to Nourish Korea and the Mekong,” exploring the agricultural connections between the regions.
Excellence Awards were presented to two teams: an Indonesian group comprising Ayska Rahma Daffadilla, Najwa Ariani, and Ikma Nur Faizah for their work “Mekong & ROK: How a River Connects Nations,” and a collaborative Korean-Vietnamese team for “The Era of Mango and Papaya Kimchi,” which explored culinary fusion between the cultures.
Three Encouragement Awards recognized innovative approaches to cultural storytelling:
- “How far does your Me-knowledge on Korea-Mekong go?” by Korean filmmakers Yunsol Kim and Hyelim Hyun
- “From Mekong to Han River: A Student’s Role in Promoting Mekong-ROK Partnership” by Thai filmmaker Surasak Muangdee
- “The five Mekong countries are ○○ to us” by Korean team Jihwan Park and Taeyoung Yang
The contest invited participants to explore various themes, including mutual cultural perceptions, ongoing cooperation initiatives, personal exchange experiences, and collaborative projects between the regions. The strong youth participation particularly impressed organizers, who see it as a promising sign for future Mekong-ROK relations.
The competition’s success underscores the growing importance of people-to-people diplomacy in strengthening international partnerships, particularly among younger generations who will shape future relations between South Korea and the Mekong region.
