If you have ever discovered K-pop, Korean dramas, Korean food, K-beauty, Korean language or another part of Korean culture and it left a lasting impression on you, Talk Talk Korea 2026 gives you the chance to turn that experience into a creative entry.
The international K-Culture contest is inviting people from around the world to share their personal perspective under the theme “My First K-Culture Moment.”
Participants can enter through Video, Photo Book, Drawing & Illustration, or Writing, with the top award in each category receiving a Korea Travel Voucher worth US$2,000. Additional winners can receive Amazon gift cards ranging from US$30 to US$1,000.
Talk Talk Korea 2026 at a Glance
- Contest: Talk Talk Korea 2026
- Theme: My First K-Culture Moment
- Host country: South Korea
- Eligibility: Non-Korean nationals
- Participation: Individual or team, depending on category
- Categories: Video, Photo Book, Drawing & Illustration, Writing
- Top prize: Korea Travel Voucher worth US$2,000
- Other prizes: Amazon gift cards
- Submission deadline: September 28, 2026, at 11:59 PM KST
- Results announced: November 5, 2026
- Official website: Talk Talk Korea
The official contest website confirms that submissions opened on July 27, 2026 and close on September 28, 2026.
What Is Talk Talk Korea?
Talk Talk Korea is an international content contest focused on Korean culture.
For the 2026 edition, participants are being asked to look back at their first encounter with K-Culture and express that experience through their chosen creative format.
Your story could involve the first K-pop song you heard, a Korean drama that introduced you to the country, your first Korean meal, an interest in Korean fashion or beauty, learning the Korean language, or another experience that changed the way you viewed Korean culture.
The official theme is “My First K-Culture Moment.”
Who Can Participate?
The contest is open to people who do not hold South Korean nationality.
Depending on the category, entries can be submitted individually or as a team. The official rules also allow participants to submit multiple works, and entrants participating across different categories may be eligible for multiple awards.
There is no requirement to be a professional content creator or artist. What matters is presenting an original interpretation of your personal K-Culture experience while following the specifications for your selected category.
Participants under 19 can also enter, although parental or guardian consent is required where applicable.
Talk Talk Korea 2026 Categories
1. Video
The Video category is designed for creators who want to tell their K-Culture story through moving images.
You can create a 30–60 second video using formats such as:
- Vlog
- Cinematic video
- Animation
- Creative short-form video
Your story can focus on the first time you encountered K-pop, K-dramas, K-food, K-beauty or another aspect of Korean culture.
Videos must meet the specified technical requirements, including the required resolution and MP4 format.
An important rule is that generative-AI-produced works cannot be submitted.
2. Photo Book
The Photo Book category allows participants to tell their story through a collection of images.
You can create a visual narrative showing your first encounter with Korean culture and the memories or experiences connected to it.
The official requirements allow up to five images, with specifications for scanned artwork or computer-generated images.
This could be suitable for photographers and visual storytellers who prefer communicating through a sequence of photographs rather than video.
3. Drawing & Illustration
Artists can interpret their first K-Culture experience through an original drawing or illustration.
The artwork should communicate the moment Korean culture first entered your life or how that experience affected you.
The contest accepts original artwork produced on A4-size paper, as well as qualifying computer graphics. The required digital specifications are outlined in the official rules.
Generative AI artwork is not eligible.
4. Writing
The Writing category gives participants the opportunity to communicate their K-Culture experience through a slogan and written proposal.
The official requirements include:
- A slogan.
- A project-intent section.
- A personal story connected to the theme.
English-language submissions have specific word limits, while Korean submissions have character limits. Entries must be submitted entirely in English or entirely in Korean; mixing the two languages is not permitted.
What Can You Win?
There are awards across all four categories.
For each category, the published prize structure includes:
- 1st Place: Korea Travel Voucher worth US$2,000
- 2nd Place: Amazon Gift Card worth US$1,000
- 3rd Place: Two awards of US$700
- 4th Place: Two awards of US$300
- 5th Place: Five awards of US$200
- Participation Award: 20 awards of US$30
That makes 31 awarded works per category, or 124 awards across the four categories.
There is also a Minister’s Award, which is specially given to the highest-scoring entrant among the first-place winners across the four categories.
The US$2,000 Korea Travel Voucher
The first-place prize is provided as a Korea Travel Voucher worth US$2,000.
This makes the competition particularly interesting for international participants who would like to experience South Korea after sharing their K-Culture story.
The official rules note that circumstances such as being unable to obtain a visa can affect the travel reward, and the organiser may substitute an equivalent prize in certain circumstances. First-place winners who use the travel voucher must also submit a travel review after their trip.
Important AI Rule
One of the most important requirements for Talk Talk Korea 2026 is that generative AI-created works are not accepted.
The organiser may request additional evidence showing how an award candidate created their work. This can include original working files, reference materials or a description of the creative process.
If the required evidence cannot be provided, the entry may be excluded or an award may be cancelled.
Therefore, participants should keep their original files and other evidence demonstrating their creative process.
How to Submit Your Entry
The submission process involves more than simply uploading your work to the contest website.
Depending on your category, you will generally need to:
Step 1: Visit the official Talk Talk Korea website.
Step 2: Register on the contest platform.
Step 3: Select your preferred category.
Step 4: Prepare your work according to that category’s technical and content requirements.
Step 5: Upload your work to the required public social media platform or YouTube channel, depending on the category.
Step 6: Add the required hashtags, including #talktalkkorea2026 #ttk2026 #MyPOV.
Step 7: Submit the required Google Form containing your entry link, personal information and work description.
The official rules state that the work must be posted through the required channel and the corresponding submission form completed for the entry to be recognised as received.
Important Dates
- Submission Deadline: September 28, 2026, at 11:59 PM KST
- Winners Announced: November 5, 2026
The organiser notes that the schedule may be subject to change.
Tips for Creating a Strong Entry
Your entry should focus on a real personal experience rather than simply presenting general information about South Korea.
Think about:
- The first K-pop song or artist that caught your attention.
- The Korean drama that introduced you to K-Culture.
- Your first experience with Korean food.
- How you became interested in Korean language.
- A Korean fashion or beauty experience.
- A cultural moment that changed your perspective.
- How K-Culture influenced a personal goal or dream.
The more clearly your work communicates your own story and perspective, the easier it is for viewers to understand the connection between you and the theme.
Copyright & Originality
Participants are responsible for ensuring that they have the appropriate rights to external materials used in their work.
The official FAQ states that appropriate permission or licensing is required for external music, fonts, images and other copyrighted assets. If another person’s image or voice is used, the necessary consent must also be obtained.
The copyright of a winning entry does not transfer to the organiser. However, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reserves certain rights to use winning entries and travel reviews for non-profit and public-interest promotional purposes for three years from the award date.
How to Apply
Applications and category-specific instructions are available on the official Talk Talk Korea platform:
OFFICIAL TALK TALK KOREA 2026 WEBSITE
Before submitting your work, carefully read the requirements for your chosen category because video, photo book, drawing and writing entries have different specifications.
If you have a memorable first experience with Korean culture, Talk Talk Korea 2026 provides an international platform to turn that story into an original creative work—and eligible first-place winners can receive a US$2,000 Korea Travel Voucher.
OpportunityShape Note
This opportunity is a creative competition rather than a scholarship or employment programme. It may be particularly useful for creators, students, artists, writers, photographers and K-Culture enthusiasts looking for an international platform to showcase their work.
Always review the official rules before submitting your entry, particularly the requirements concerning originality, AI-generated content, copyright, submission format and eligibility.
