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Sijo competition rules and information

in collaboration with the Korea Institute, Harvard University

Deadline: March 31, 2020 (11.59pm CDT)

Divisions

  • Adult division (age 19 and older)
  • Pre-college division (age 18 and younger)*
    *College students who are eighteen at the time of the competition deadline are asked to participate in the adult division.

Guidelines

Write one sijo in English on a topic of your choice. A title for the sijo is not required. More information on writing sijo can be found here.

Eligibility
  • Participants must participate in their age-appropriate division. Younger participants may not apply to the adult division.
  • One entry per category per contestant is permitted. (Contestants are permitted one essay entry and one sijo entry.)
  • For students participating in both essay and sijo divisions: Unlike the sijo adult division, essay divisions do not have a lower age limit. If a pre-college student would like to compete in the adult essay division and pre-college sijo division, s/he must create two separate application accounts.
Entries
  • All entries must be written in English. If Korean or another language is included, the entry will be judged on its English content alone.
  • Contestants' names cannot be written in their entries.
  • Entries must be submitted through our website. Entries submitted via email will not be accepted.
Results
  • We reserve the right to use all submitted pieces in future publications of the Sejong Cultural Society.
  • The judges may choose to decline to award a prize.
  • Winners are usually announced by mid-May. This estimate is subject to change depending on the number of total entries received; a more accurate estimate will be posted on our website soon after the competition deadline.
Prizes
  • Adult division: First ($1,000), Second ($750), Third ($500)
  • Pre-college division: First ($500), Second ($400), Third ($300)
  • Honorable mention (for both divisions listed above): Friends of Pacific Rim Awards ($50 each)
  • Competition winners will be announced in AZALEA: Journal of Korean Literature and Culture, published by the Korea Institute at Harvard University.
  • Winners' works may be published in the Korea Times Chicago or the Korean Quarterly.