4th Aju Economy Veterans' Spring Literary Contest Highlights Meaning of Service
By Kang Sang HeonPosted : June 30, 2026, 17:20Updated : June 30, 2026, 17:20
Winners and presenters pose for a commemorative photo at the 4th Aju Economy Veterans' Spring Literary Contest held at the Maehan Yoon Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on June 30, 2026. [Photo by Yoo Dae-gil, dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
"Through writing, I was able to reflect on the meaning of veterans' service, making it even more profound," said one of the awardees at the 4th Aju Economy Veterans' Spring Literary Contest held on June 30 at the Maehan Yoon Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seoul.
The winners unanimously expressed that the process of creating their works allowed them to revisit the lives of veterans and their families, serving as a reminder of the significance of their sacrifices.
This year, the Minister's Award for the short story category went to Sung Baek-gwang for his piece, "The Light of an Old Medal." Sung remarked, "Through this work, I was able to look back at the noble lives of veterans and their families. I hope we never forget that our ordinary lives today are built on someone else's sacrifice."
In the screenplay category, the Minister's Award was awarded to Lim Hyo-seon for "Grandma Who Dislikes Exercise." Lim stated, "I have always talked to my students about the importance of new challenges in the classroom. It was meaningful to practice that value through writing, and I will continue to strive to convey positive messages to our society."
Lee Jeong-hyeon received the Minister's Award in the poetry category for "Unnamed." Lee expressed, "I wanted to capture in my poem the stories of all the unnamed martyrs who fought for independence without leaving their names behind. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the unsung heroes resting beneath the large national flag at our feet."
Kim Yu-young was honored with the Minister's Award in the children's literature category for "100-Year School." Kim shared, "Both my father and my in-laws are veterans. Thanks to them, I have precious stories to write about our country and its history. I will do my best to create meaningful works that convey deep messages."
The Minister's Award for the essay category went to Lee Kyung-hee for "The Day I Moved to the National Cemetery." Lee reflected, "My father was killed in the Vietnam War, and my mother is also interred at the national cemetery. I wrote this piece as if I were writing a letter to my father. I am incredibly happy and honored to receive such a significant award for my father's story. It feels like I have fulfilled a long-held wish."
In the book report category, the Minister's Award was given to student Kim Yul-gok for "A World Where the Long-Stemmed Vegetable Does Not Look Like a Gun." Kim expressed gratitude, saying, "I captured the feelings of remorse and gratitude I experienced while reading the book. Thank you for resonating with my heart. I will remember that sacrifice for a long time."