The Institute, headed by Director Choi Woo-ik, hosted the 16th National Russian-Language Debate Competition for University and Graduate Students on May 15 in the International Conference Hall of the Minerva Complex at the Seoul Campus.

Now in its 16th year, the competition represents one of the flagship achievements of the Institute’s Next-Generation Scholar Development Program, which has been promoted since 2011. As the only Russian-language debate competition of its kind in Korea, the event provides undergraduate and graduate students majoring in Russian language and Russian studies with an opportunity to demonstrate their Russian-language proficiency and debating skills. It also contributes to raising public interest in Russian language education and Russian regional studies.

The competition brought together eight finalists who advanced through a highly competitive preliminary round. Among the distinguished guests attending the event were Kang Gi-hoon, President of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; Georgy Zinoviev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Korea; Aleksandr Yakimovets, Representative of Rossotrudnichestvo in Korea; Park Jong-ho, Chairman of the Korea-Russia Business Council (KRBC); as well as professors and students from Russian-related departments across the country.

Commemorating the 160th anniversary of the birth of Wassily Kandinsky, this year’s competition focused on Russian art and culture. Participants explored the role of the arts in fostering understanding between countries and peoples, as well as how works of art can reveal a society’s history, values, identity, and spirit of the times.

The semifinal round was held under the theme, “Painting as a Space for Dialogue Between Culture, Humanity, and the Times.” Participants debated whether painting can serve as a medium that connects people from different cultural backgrounds and promotes mutual understanding.

The final round addressed the theme, “Art Between National Identity and a Universal Cultural Language.” Drawing on Kandinsky’s artistic vision, finalists engaged in an in-depth discussion on whether art can simultaneously embody a nation’s identity while transcending borders as a universal means of communication.

The finalists demonstrated not only outstanding Russian-language proficiency but also strong analytical and communication skills, presenting their views logically and engaging in rigorous exchanges of questions and rebuttals. This year’s competition highlighted participants’ understanding of art and culture, international perspectives, critical thinking, and expressive abilities in addition to their linguistic competence.

Following a fair and rigorous evaluation by a panel of Korean and Russian judges led by Organizing Committee Chair Bang Gyo-young and Chief Judge Hong Sang-woo, the Grand Prize was awarded to Sung Woo-jin of Sungkyunkwan University.

List of Award Recipients

• Grand Prize: Sung Woo-jin (Sungkyunkwan University)
• Gold Prize: Choi Ji-hyun (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)
• Silver Prize: Jeon Do-won (Kyungpook National University)
• Bronze Prize: Lim Dong-hyeok (Korea University)
• Encouragement Awards: Park Chan-hee (Defense Language Institute), So Seong-ho (Defense Language Institute), Lee Seong-hyeon (Defense Language Institute), and Jeong Yun-seok (Kookmin University)

All award recipients are scheduled to receive prize money, commemorative gifts, and certificates jointly issued by the President of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation during an award ceremony to be held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Seoul in early June.

The competition is expected to continue serving as a leading academic and educational event that encourages Korean university and graduate students to pursue Russian-language studies while deepening their understanding of Russian culture.