The winners of the 2024 English Essay Contest were honored at an award ceremony, which took place at the university’s Press and Broadcasting Center on Nov. 8. This annual competition’s first prize in the nonnative English speakers’ category was awarded to Moon Ji-young (School of Dentistry), while the second prize went to Kim Ha-hoon (School of Dentistry), and the third prize was jointly awarded to Jeon Jae-ho (Dept. of Psychology) and Pak Liliya (Dept. of English Language and Literature). Encouragement prizes were awarded to Lee Su-yeon (Dept. of Biology), Im Hyeong-seok (Dept. of Statistics), Han Da-sol (School of Dentistry), and Stefanovic Goranka (Dept. of Korean Education, Graduate School). Though another competitive category for native English speakers was held, the judges gave no awards in this category due to an insufficient number of applicants. 

20 Korean and international undergraduate and graduate students took part in the competition, which was held on Oct. 12 at the CNU Office of Information and Technology Services. Contestants were given two hours to write their essays without internet access, ensuring that their work would display their actual knowledge and abilities rather than those of translation or AI services. 

The contest’s essay prompt read: “The Bank of Korea recently released a report indicating that a student’s background, particularly their parents’ financial status, significantly affects their chances of being admitted to prestigious universities. This economic disparity leads to increased spending on private education, creating unequal educational opportunities. In a context where socioeconomic background often overshadows a student’s potential, what effective measures can universities implement to promote a fairer educational system? Use specific reasons and examples to support your viewpoint.”