LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun's 'Love for the Sea'... Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Underwater Photography Contest

Author Lee Su-yeon Honored with Grand Prize for 'Jackfish's Face'

Koo Ja-kyun, Chairman of LS Electric. [Photo by LS Electric]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Yeju] The LS ELECTRIC underwater photography contest has reached its 10th anniversary.

On the 5th, LS Electric announced that it held the awards ceremony for the "10th LS Electric National Underwater Photography Contest" at the LS Yongsan Tower in collaboration with the Seoul Underwater and Finswimming Association.

The LS Electric National Underwater Photography Contest began in 2013 with the purpose of sharing the mysteries of the underwater world with the public and promoting the preservation of the sea in a clear and blue state.

This year, a total of about 250 works were submitted in two categories: underwater photography and marine environment, until September. After evaluation by a panel of experts from various fields, a total of 40 works were selected, including 20 in the underwater photography category and 20 in the marine environment category.

The grand prize was awarded to photographer Lee Suyeon for "Face of Jackfish." This work captures a scene from Mexico's Cabo Pulmo National Park, known as the world's aquarium for its rich biodiversity and unique marine ecosystem, where jackfish perform a school dance resembling human faces, seemingly about to engulf the diver.

The excellence awards went to three works: "Rest in the Flower Garden" by photographer Yang Chunghong, depicting a goby resting on a sea anemone blooming like a flower in Anilao, Philippines; "The Greatest Gift" by photographer Lim Jaehoon, capturing a manta ray swimming in Hanifaru Bay, Maldives; and "Mediator" by photographer Jeon Minseok, showing a shrimp comfortably sitting between two seahorses in the sea off Chilcheon-do, Geoje Island. Additionally, six encouragement awards and ten honorable mentions were given.

The winning works of this contest will be exhibited in the lobby on the first floor of LS Tower (Anyang) and LS Yongsan Tower until mid-January, open for public viewing.

The LS Electric underwater photography contest was initiated and planned by LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun. Known as a skin diving enthusiast, Chairman Koo holds an official diving record of 2,000 dives, a breath-holding record of 3 minutes and 40 seconds, and is a certified scuba instructor. He currently serves as the president of the Seoul Underwater and Finswimming Association.

Chairman Koo Ja-kyun said, "It is meaningful that the contest, which started to share the beauty of the underwater world that is hard to experience in daily life through photography and to discover and support domestic underwater photographers, has now reached its 10th year. We will continue to make greater efforts to protect the beautiful underwater scenery of our seas."