The number of advertisements submitted to AD STARS 2012, an international advertising festival to be held in Busan, surged dramatically compared to last year, making the festival a key advertising event on the international stage.

According to the organizing committee of AD STARS 2012, the number of advertisements submitted to the committee totaled 10,431, a 46 percent jump from last year’s 7,130 entries.

It is the first time the committee has seen the number of entries exceed 10,000 since the advertising festival was launched in 2008. 

“It is very encouraging for an advertising festival to exceed 10,000 entries in five years after its launch. This demonstrates that AD STARS 2012 is growing as a truly international event that goes beyond Asia,” said Lee Eui-ja, co-chairperson of AD STARS.

The advertising works are from 57 countries in Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East.

The number of foreign entries surged 64 percent, accounting for 73 percent of the total entries. Local pieces account for the remaining 27 percent.

The works are registered in different categories that reflect today’s advertising trends ― from entertainment to strategic presentation and innovation.

The festival, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is slated to be held from Aug. 23-25.

Throughout the festival, seminars and side events featuring experts from the advertising industry including Jonathan Mildenhall, vice president of Coca-Cola, and Akira Kagami, creative director of Dentsu, a Tokyo-based advertising agency, will be held.

To attend the festival, register online at www.adstarsfestival.org.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)