4th Aju Economy Literary Contest Honors Contributions to National Defense

On June 30, the 4th Aju Economy Veterans Literary Contest awards ceremony took place at the Maehun Yoon Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Aju Economy Newspaper honored 18 winners, including six recipients of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Award, reflecting on the value of veterans' contributions.

The event was attended by Aju News Corporation Chairman Kwak Young-gil, Aju Economy President Lim Kyu-jin, Natchiman, Director of the Veterans Culture Policy Division at the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Dongnong Cultural Foundation Chairman Kim Sun-hyun, and Korea Army Association President Eom Gi-hak, along with awardees and their families.

Now in its fourth year, the Aju Economy Veterans Literary Contest aims to document the lives of those who dedicated themselves to independence, freedom, and national defense through literature, preserving the spirit of veterans. Over 1,000 entries were submitted across six categories, including poetry, essays, short stories, children's literature, screenplays, and book reports, with 18 pieces ultimately selected for awards.

This year, the Minister of Veterans Affairs Award was expanded from one overall winner to six top works in each category, and a new award from the Korea Army Association was introduced to strengthen the recognition system.

Aju Economy President Lim Kyu-jin stated, "Thanks to the noble sacrifices of our fallen heroes who dedicated everything for the independence of our country and the patriotic spirits of those who defended it, today’s South Korea enjoys freedom and peace. Honoring these sacrifices begins with remembering them. It is also our precious responsibility to reflect on these memories in today’s language and pass them on to the next generation." He added, "Aju Economy Newspaper will strive to ensure that the contributions of those who dedicated themselves to the nation are remembered for a long time and that the values of veterans take deeper root in our society."

Dongnong Cultural Foundation Chairman Kim Sun-hyun remarked, "Honoring veterans means remembering and expressing gratitude, and the power of culture and literature lies in awakening people to this. I hope the awardees convey the values of veterans with clear eyes and revive the era."
Winners of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Award included:
- Short Story: 'The Light of an Old Medal' (Seong Baek-gwang)
- Screenplay: 'Grandma Who Dislikes Exercise' (Lim Hyo-seon)
- Poetry: 'Nameless' (Lee Jeong-hyun)
- Children's Literature: '100-Year School' (Kim Yu-young)
- Essay: 'The Day I Moved to the National Cemetery' (Lee Kyung-hee)
- Book Report: 'In a World Where the Long-Stemmed Vegetable Cannot Be Seen as a Gun' (Kim Yul-gok).

Category winners included:
- Short Story: 'Happy Birthday, Anarchist in the Corner' (Jin Hwan-joo)
- Screenplay: 'To Your Name' (Lee So-ri)
- Poetry: 'Father's Ring from the Grave' (Jo Suk-ja)
- Children's Literature: 'Running Train' (Kim Yeon-su)
- Essay: 'Ode for Forgotten Names' (Seong Hyun-gyeong)
- Book Report: 'Names That Could Not Call Attendance' (Kim Ga-bin).

Awards of excellence went to:
- Short Story: 'The Person Who Cries Instead' (Kim A-won)
- Screenplay: 'One Beautiful Word for Each Star' (Seo Yoon-joo)
- Poetry: 'Compass' (Heo Kyung-ho)
- Children's Literature: 'An Jung-geun and Chiba Toshichi' (Lee Kwang-ho)
- Essay: 'A Cliché Fight' (Kim Young-bong)
- Book Report: 'The Fire of Che Pechika' (Kim Yoon-ho).

This contest was hosted by Aju Economy Newspaper and supported by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the Korean Liberation Association, the Dongnong Cultural Foundation, the Korea Army Association, and Auto Industry.