On October 29, the 2025 Humanitas Baegiljang was held at the Multimedia Education Building on Kyung Hee University (KHU) Global Campus. Hosted by Humanitas College and Kyung Hee Writing Center, and funded through the University Innovation Support Project, this competition was open to students from the Global Campus. It drew a total of 105 participants, including 86 domestic and 19 international students.

Capturing the Moment–Inside the 2025 Humanitas Baegiljang

Before the contest began, the first floor of the Multimedia Education Building was busy. Banners lined the walls, and posters wrapped around the pillars. Students sat quietly, organizing their thoughts. One participant was seen drawing a mind map on his tablet, while an international student was studying Korean vocabulary.

Banners lined the walls, and posters wrapped around the pillars

Following a series of entry procedures for the contest venue, the contest opened with an opening remark by Lee Jun-tae, dean of Humanitas College. He thanked students for their unexpectedly high interest and participation. He tried to ease the tension with a joke, "This is not an exam, so do not be nervous. Focus on participating, but since it is Baegiljang, feel free to aim for Jang-won, the grand prize."

Dean Lee opened the contest with an opening remark

Following the traditional Baegiljang format—an on-the-spot writing contest dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, students wrote by hand for two hours. The writing prompts were “The Courage to Live Slowly” for domestic students and “Memories and Culture that Define Me” for international students. According to the Kyung Hee Writing Center, the topics were chosen because "they encourage thoughtful reflection and are relatable to all students." After announcing the prompt for international students, Dean Lee advised, "As international students, it would be good to recall meaningful memories and cultures from your time abroad."

The scene of the 2025 Humanitas Baegiljang 

Winners Who Reflect on Self and Society

The 2025 Humanitas Baegiljang was more than just a competition; it offered participants a chance to reflect on themselves and engage more deeply with the world through writing.

 The awards ceremony was held on November 12. The grand prize in the domestic student category was awarded to Kwon Gyu-rin, a student of the Dept. of Spanish. "I participated to gain writing experience, but I never expected this,” she said. “I was going through a hard time, so this award felt like encouragement.”

Award Winners of the 2025 Humanitas Baegiljang

Kwon's grand prize-winning essay explored the value of living slowly. She described watching a sunset over the Hangang River and connected that moment to the Latin American concept of Buen Vivir, meaning “living well.” She argued that in a competitive society, people need a slower life while respecting nature and others. Judges’ comments posted on the Humanitas College website praised her work for “excellent thematic cohesion, a complete and well-structured composition, and a smooth expansion from personal experience to broader social meaning.”

The grand prize in the international student category went to Hameed Muhammad Mahed, a student of the Dept. of Industrial Design. His essay compared the self to a crystal shaped by memories and culture. The judges awarded him high marks for his precise expression in Korean and outstanding logical flow.

Why the Contest Matters

 The Baegiljang fosters writing skills and critical thinking and will continue as a campus tradition. According to Dean Lee, "Writing is a process of reflecting and expressing one's thoughts. It is important to grow into a person who can express what they have learned and feel through liberal arts education—to be more mature and responsible human beings." He added that Humanitas College plans to continue the contest so that “the goals of liberal arts education can be properly realized.”

The 2025 Humanitas Baegiljang gave students a valuable opportunity to reflect and put their thoughts into words on paper. Serving not merely as a one-time event but as an integral part of achieving the educational goals of Humanitas College, this contest is anticipated to continue as a meaningful tradition that encourages students to think independently and communicate effectively.