The Eighth Annual Korean Speech Contest 2025
Monash University Korean Studies presents
The Eighth Annual Korean Speech Contest 2025
(제 8회 한국어 말하기 대회)
DATE: October 9th, 2025, 5:30-9pm (Melbourne/Sydney Time) ♣
Place: Room H116, Level 1 (Exhibition Space) Building H, Monash University Caulfield Campus, VIC 3145 & via ZOOM ♣
Prizes:
1st prize: AUD$1000.00 ♣
3 x Runners up prizes of AUD$350.00 each♣
Entry Process:
To be eligible to compete in the final on October 9th, 2025 you will need to pass the qualification round. Send in a video of yourself giving a 3-minute talk in Korean on:
Topic: “The Korean word that changed my life”
This may be any type of Korean word or phrase, including dialect, slang, or swear words. One way to approach the task may be as a comparison between one’s home culture and Korean culture.
Upload the video according to the instructions below. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure the video functions so the judges of the preliminary round can view the video.
Submit your qualification round video as follows:
- All applicants should upload their videos to the following Google DRIVE location:
8th Annual Korean Speech Contest entries 2025 - Google Drive
All video entries should be titled: “Surname initial date month year” for example:
JacksonA4Jul2025
Or
NguyenS27Sep2025 - In your video, state your name clearly at the start
- Videos longer than 3 minutes will not be considered. No special presentation requirements (for example: PowerPoints etc) are necessary. Videos do not need to be professionally edited. Videos only need to show the entrant speaking. Audio only will not be accepted, the speaker needs to be visible. Please be aware that your video will only be viewed by the qualification round judges consisting of Monash University Korean Studies teaching staff members.
- After uploading the video, you should submit your application form as below.
- Deadline for Qualification Round Videos and application forms:
24th September 2025, 11:55 pm AEST/Mel Time
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How to submit your application form:
Send a completed application form to Sandy Nguyen:
All entries will receive a reply within 2 days of receipt. If you do not receive a reply, you should send a follow up email, however, you are advised to submit your entries prior to the deadline, because late entries will not be considered.
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※ In your application form (see below) you will be asked to include:
1) Your full name, your year of study (1st, 2nd etc), your major area of study, and the name of your educational establishment in the Melbourne Metropolitan area or in Vietnam as appropriate.
2) A few words about your interests especially Korea-related interests (10-15 words in English or in Korean – this applies to all entrants both from Melbourne and Vietnam)
3) A list of all Korean studies you have undertaken with precise dates. You should include courses at educational institutions and structured self-study, private one-to-one tuition and language exchanges.
4) Your contact details (address, phone number and email address)
5) A scanned copy of student ID from an educational institution in Metropolitan Melbourne or in Vietnam as applicable.
6) A signed consent form for still and moving images
7) A signed consent form for entrants under 18 years old (see below)
For any further questions, please contact Sandy Nguyen:
Sandy.nguyen1@monash.edu
Entry Requirements:
1. Open to students who meet one of following two classes of candidates:
a) all second language non-heritage learners of Korean who are 16 years of age or over, and currently registered part-time or full-time in education at institutions in metropolitan Melbourne and in possession of a valid ID as proof of their current enrolment;
or
b) students selected during an internal selection round by Korean studies staff of the following partner universities in Vietnam; Van Lang University, Hanoi Pedagogical 2 University, University of Economy of Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and Van Hien University.
All entrants who are under the age of 18 must provide the written and signed consent of a parent or guardian to ensure that they have permission to compete in this competition. The consent form should be scanned and sent by email to Sandy Nguyen: Sandy.nguyen1@monash.edu along with your application information before the qualification round deadline of 24th September 2025, 11:55 pm AEST (Melbourne time)
1. The entrant who appears in the video must be the same person who has filled in the application form and who has included a scanned copy of their ID from their relevant institution (applies to both Melbourne and Vietnamese institutions). The entrant must be available to appear (if necessary) in the final event.
2. The talk should be a monologue in Korean by one person on the topic listed above.
Selection of Finalists and winners:
All competitors will be split into three groups for the qualification round and final competition by the Speech Contest organisers based on the information in the completed application forms:
Group 1 - less than one year since you began learning Korean in an educational setting or through structured self-study
Group 2 – less than two years since you began learning Korean in an educational setting or through structured self-study
Group 3 – more than two years since you began learning Korean in an educational setting or through structured self-study
Judges will select a maximum of eighteen participants for the final on October 3rd, 2025 (around six in each category). The selection for the finalists from both Melbourne and Vietnam will be judged by a panel of three Monash University Korean studies staff members, and this will take place on September 24th at Monash University, Clayton and the announcement of the successful qualifying candidates will be made by Thursday, October 2 at 5pm AEST. To ensure a balance of onshore and offshore participants, Van Lang University, Hanoi Pedagogical 2 University, University of Economics and Finance (UEF) and Van Hien University will be limited to three participants each, one in each category (Groups 1, 2, and 3).
The judges for the speech contest will be announced on 3 October, 2025.
At the final, qualifying candidates will be asked to give a short speech in Korean to a live audience on the topic: ”The Korean word that changed my life.”
In the final on October 9th 2025, one overall winner will be selected. Three other candidates will be awarded runners-up prizes; at least one prize will be awarded to each group.
Awards will be made based on:
- Korean language ability (in relation to experience learning Korean)
- Originality of content and creativity
Announcement of winners:
The overall winner and runners up will be announced at the conclusion of the final competition on October 9th, 2025.
The name, photograph and videos of the winners may be published on the Monash University Korean Studies website and in other University publications in accordance with clause 12 of the Competition Terms.
The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Chance plays no part in determining the winners. All entries will be judged individually on their merits based on Korean language ability (in relation to experience learning Korean) and originality of content and creativity.
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Please read all the competition terms CAREFULLY. Access the Terms and Conditions, Application and Consent Form here.