KBS Korean Language Contest, 8 Elementary Students Challenge for 'Children's Hangeul Champion' to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Hangul Day

Episode 1097 Korean Language Contest>

Hangul Day Special Children's Hangeul Champion Contest Part 1 (Finals)

"I want to buy joint medicine for my grandmother with the prize money" 'Children's Hangeul Champion Contest', a fierce battle between 8 finalists

Broadcast: Monday, October 5, 2026, at 7:40 PM on KBS 1TV

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hangul Day, Korean Language Contest> will determine the Children's Hangeul Champion!

In 1926, Hangul Day was established by the Korean Language Research Society under the name 'Hangul Day'. Marking the 100th anniversary of its establishment this year, Korean Language Contest> will select the Children's Hangeul Champion.

In July and August, two preliminary rounds were conducted for elementary school students nationwide who love the Korean language. With as many as 471 applicants, the 8 finalists who emerged through fierce competition amidst enthusiastic participation will be revealed through the broadcast on October 5.

The final winner will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award and 3 million won in prize money!

The Children's Hangeul Champion Contest will proceed for the next two weeks. The 8 finalists will participate in the finals in pairs, consisting of one upper-grade student and one lower-grade student. Only one pair, ranking 1st and 2nd among the four pairs, will advance to the final round. The challenger who wins the final round will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award, a total prize of 3 million won, and the title of Children's Hangeul Champion. Attention is focused on which four challengers will advance to the final round.

A surprise guest appears in the recording studio?

Meanwhile, on this day, Cheonghak-dong Master Kim Bong-gon visited the recording studio. Master Kim Bong-gon is scheduled to step in and help solve problems directly if the challengers face difficulties. Master Kim Bong-gon provides his characteristic encouragement and sharp words to ensure the challengers do not get nervous. In particular, he drew laughter by expressing interest in taking talented finalists to Cheonghak-dong, where he belongs.

Studying the Korean language day and night! Hyun Go-un and Kim Jae-i pair

6th-grade challenger Hyun Go-un received the highest score in the preliminary round of the Children's Hangeul Champion Contest. During the interview, she showed her active side by dancing without hesitation to demonstrate her enthusiasm.

Her partner, 4th-grade challenger Kim Jae-i, also showed unmatched passion by performing a musical song. She is so sincere about Korean Language Contest> that she even took a separate train to attend the preliminary round on the day of the test after going on vacation to Yeongwol, Gangwon-do. The Hyun Go-un and Kim Jae-i pair even prepared the slogan 'day and night' as they studied together regardless of the time. It remains to be seen whether these two well-prepared challengers can advance to the final round.

Possessing both calmness and wisdom! Kim Seo-yun and Shin I-do pair

6th-grade challenger Kim Seo-yun has experience winning the Korean Language Society Award at the 'Children's Hangeul Champion Contest' hosted by Sejong Special Self-Governing City last year. She is so dedicated to the Korean language that she applies Hunminjeongeum rules, such as only using Korean when playing Yut Nori with her family during holidays.

Her partner is 4th-grade challenger Shin I-do, whose name is the same as 'King Sejong's' real name, 'I-do'. He usually takes pride in his name and shows his love and care for the Korean language to live up to it. The Kim Seo-yun and Shin I-do pair, who caused a stir in the studio by solving problems calmly without any change in expression throughout, are expected to maintain this momentum and advance smoothly to the final round.

Quirky but possessing excellent Korean language skills! Oh Won-jun and Ahn Yun-su pair

6th-grade challenger Oh Won-jun has steadily appeared in the Children's Hangeul Champion Contest since 2023. He says that appearing every year serves as motivation to think about the Korean language once again and study harder.

His partner, 5th-grade challenger Ahn Yun-su, moved people by saying she wants to buy joint medicine for her grandmother, who has poor knees, with the prize money. She also turned the recording studio into a sea of laughter by saying that if there is any prize money left, she would use it to go to a public bathhouse she usually likes. Despite her quirky side, the Oh Won-jun and Ahn Yun-su pair made other participants nervous with their excellent Korean language skills. Attention is focused on whether they can advance to the final round and move one step closer to victory.

Confident in both Sino-Korean words and pure Korean! Kim Seung-gi and Lee Min-chae pair

6th-grade challenger Kim Seung-gi, who has a history of serving as class president for three consecutive years at school, reached the final stage after undergoing two preliminary rounds traveling between Yeongam County, Jeollanam-do and Seoul for this challenge. His partner is 5th-grade challenger Lee Min-chae, who is active as a member of a local junior reporter group. The broadcast will reveal whether the Kim Seung-gi and Lee Min-chae pair, whose chemistry between the sharp 5th-grade younger student and the 6th-grade older brother who calmly leads her, will bear fruit.

In the Hangul Day special of Korean Language Contest>, an unavoidable head-to-head battle between the 8 finalists will unfold to determine the true Children's Hangeul Champion. Part 1 of the Korean Language Contest> Hangul Day Special Children's Hangeul Champion Contest, where the final round participants will be decided, can be watched on Monday, October 5, at 7:40 PM on KBS 1TV. (Photo provided = KBS 1TV 'Korean Language Contest')

◆ At a Glance

· Publishing Institution: KBS

· Category: Korean Language Contest

· Distribution: October 2, 14:21

Source: KBS Press Release

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