Council Successfully Concludes "2025 Love Diary Grand Festival World Competition" Awards Ceremony

Delivering a Social Message:
"Let Us Cherish Healthy Families and a Healthy Korea as We Move Toward New Dreams"

The Human Restoration Movement Promotion Council (Chairman Ko Jin-gwang, hereinafter referred to as the Council) announced on the 28th that the awards ceremony for the "2025 Love Diary Grand Festival World Competition" was held at 1 p.m. on the 25th in the main conference hall of the National Assembly Members' Office Building.

Since the first Love Diary Grand Festival was held in 1992, the event has been held every year without interruption, and this year marked its 34th edition. The event was co-hosted by the Council and the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education.

This year, more than 5,600 participants from Korea and abroad submitted entries. Among them, 1,623 were selected as award recipients, including Park Miso from Korea University of Media Arts, who received the Speaker of the National Assembly Award. The list of winners was announced on the official website on the 1st, and after accepting applications to attend the ceremony, a final group of 156 awardees and about 300 family members participated in the awards event.

Before the ceremony, awardees and their families toured the National Assembly main chamber and the National Assembly Museum, viewed family works, created commemorative badges, browsed collections of awardees' diaries, took commemorative photos at a photo zone, and wrote their hopes for Korea on a large banner under the theme "The Korea We Wish For," among other experiential activities.

During the pre-ceremony event, student representative Choi Byeol (Daegu Soseon Girls' Middle School, Grade 1), parent representative Cha Aeyoung, and teacher representative Lee Youngsook (Chungju Namsan Elementary School) read the "Declaration of Building Trust Among the Three Pillars of Education: Students, Parents, and Teachers," reflecting on the mindset needed to foster mutual trust.

The pre-ceremony congratulatory performances, given as talent donations by awardees, were hosted by two student awardees (Kim Yeyoung, Yangsan Daeun Elementary School, Grade 6; Lee Bom, Daegu Daecheong Elementary School, Grade 4). The event began with a choral performance of "Growing Through the Love Diary" by the awardee choir, conducted by Professor Kim Youngok and accompanied by Choi Haeun. This was followed by a taekwondo demonstration (Park Jiwoo, Daegu Daecheong Elementary School, Grade 2), violin performance (Eom Jeongwoo, Daejeon Oesam Elementary School, Grade 6), oratory (Baek Haejun, Cheongju Cheongwon Elementary School, Grade 6), cheerleading (Lee Yena, Pohang Jungang Elementary School, Grade 3), Gyeonggi folk songs (Yoo Chaeun, Changwon Gamgye Elementary School, Grade 6), and a flash mob led by Professor Lee Eunha, culminating in singer Seohee's "Dokdo Forever." The program featured a diverse array of performances.

Meanwhile, notable guests who had lectured at the Council's "I Am Tomorrow's Leader Camp" held twice in July and August-Jung Unchan, Chairman of the Shared Growth Research Institute and former Prime Minister; Jang Gwangja, Operating Committee Member of the Love Diary Foundation; Professor Jeon Sunyoung of Yongin University and former Blue House Empathy Secretary; and Koo Cheonse, Chairman of the Constitutional Association's Operating Committee and former National Assembly member-also visited the event to encourage the awardees.

The main ceremony included the opening declaration, national ceremony, congratulatory and welcome speeches, and a report on the judging process by Son Seongnam, former principal of Seongju Jungang Elementary School, who reviewed the diary entries submitted for the 2025 Love Diary Grand Festival World Competition.

In his address, Chairman Ko Jin-gwang stated, "Children who reflect do not go astray. I remain convinced that writing a diary is the best way to foster character in children," and added, "I hope the Love Diary Movement, which has continued for 40 years, will persist and spread even further."

On this day, National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik sent a congratulatory video message. Other congratulatory messages were delivered by National Assembly members Park Suhyeon and Lee Yongseon; Choi Kyojin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education; Choi Minho, Mayor of Sejong Special Self-Governing City; Hong Seonghyeon, Chairman of the Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Council; Jeong Geunsik, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education; Do Seonghun, Superintendent of the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education; Shin Gyeongho, Superintendent of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education; Park Jonghun, Superintendent of the Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education; and Kim Daejung, Superintendent of the Jeollanam-do Office of Education, all congratulating the event.

During the award presentation sponsored by 50 organizations, certificates were given individually to all 156 attending awardees, including Daegu Namseong Elementary School (Principal Na Ikrok) and Moa Elementary School (Principal Hwang Miyeong), both of which received the grand prize in the group category. As each award was presented, the recipient's name, certificate photo, family work photo, and individual portrait were displayed on screen, receiving enthusiastic responses from the families.

After the certificate presentation, awardees participated in a closing performance, flying paper airplanes inscribed with their dreams and hopes for Korea. The Council explained that this performance symbolized the hope that these children, who represent the country's future, will be able to grow without limits toward their dreams.

A Council representative stated, "The Love Diary Grand Festival has become a true celebration prepared and enjoyed together, as the awardees themselves organize the congratulatory events."

The Council expressed gratitude to the political figures and heads of government agencies who sent congratulatory messages and sponsored certificates for the 2025 Love Diary Grand Festival World Competition. The Council also thanked Korean Air, the Community Chest of Korea, the Imdang Scholarship Foundation, the parents who guided the awardee hosts, the parents and Professor Kim Youngok who coached the performers, Choi Haeun, Professor Lee Eunha, singer Seohee, and all other volunteers who supported this event.