Corea Image Communication Institute will host a speaking competition this month to select Korean and non-Korean representatives to participate in the Culture Communication Forum scheduled for Sept. 6.

The competition will take place on April 28 at Samsung Electronics Headquarters in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, under the theme “Communicating Korea.” Anyone below the age of 35 can participate to voice their opinions on communication, in Korean language.

More than 140 people have applied for the contest as of Wednesday, including non-Koreans studying in Korea and students at universities throughout the nation. The deadline for application is April 22.

Theresa Rah, the spokesperson of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games Bid Committee who stepped into the limelight after her eloquent presentation last year, will serve as the MC for the competition.

The jury panel will be composed of well-known figures including Lee Jasmine, the new propositional representation lawmaker of the Saenuri Party; Seo Kyoung-duk, professor at Sungshin Women’s University, known for placing Dokdo ads in influential U.S. newspapers along with singer Kim Jang-hoon; and Sohn Ji-ae, President and CEO of Arirang TV & Radio.

Winners of the competition will earn a chance to speak with French sociologist Dominique Wolton and Vladimir Tolstoy, the great-great-grandson of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy at CCF as well as round tickets to Europe, garment vouchers and prize money.

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)