16 winning entries announced across regular video and short-form categories from 86 total submissions; short-form category newly introduced, with notable MZ generation participation and standout storytelling
A short film following a young aspiring actor who rides the first train of the day to auditions and filming locations has won the grand prize in the regular video category of Seoul Metro's 2026 YouTube video contest.
Seoul Metro announced Wednesday that it had selected 16 final winners for its 2026 Seoul Metro YouTube Video Contest, a citizen-participation competition.
Now in its third year, the contest accepted submissions from July 20 to Aug. 31. A total of 86 entries were received — 43 in the regular video category, themed "Moments That Make Seoul Subway Better," and 43 in the short-form category, themed "Seoul Subway: Fun Facts You Never Knew!" Winners were chosen through a preliminary screening and an internal first-round review, followed by a rigorous second-round evaluation by outside experts.
This year's contest expanded its scope by introducing a short-form category to reflect current media trends, selecting eight winners in each category for a total of 16. The total prize pool is 11 million won ($8,190), with grand prizes of 3 million won in the regular video category and 1 million won in the short-form category. Each category offers grand prize, excellence, merit and encouragement awards.
The regular video grand prize went to "Passing Each Small Finish Line, We Head to the Next Station," by Moon Chi-ho.
The work captures the daily routine of a young person dreaming of becoming an actor — riding the first subway train each morning, memorizing scripts on board, and heading to filming sets and audition venues. Framing the repeated commute as a series of small finish lines and steps toward the next opportunity, the entry earned top marks from judges for its exceptional cinematography and storytelling, which conveyed the role Seoul's subway plays in connecting youth, dreams and everyday life.
The short-form grand prize went to "Drawing the Story of Seoul Metro and Its Subway Together!" by Lim Eun-su.
Using speed-painting watercolor illustration techniques, the entry translated potentially dry subway information — including headway intervals, transfer routes and how to distinguish express from local trains — into warm, approachable content, drawing praise from the judging panel.
The judges said in their assessment that this year's contest saw notably higher participation from the MZ generation compared with previous years, and that they could clearly sense a qualitative leap in fresh ideas, storytelling and overall production quality. They described it as a meaningful competition that took the familiar subject of the subway and expanded it into content reflecting citizens' daily lives and the stories of Seoul, adding both relatability and entertainment value.
The winning entries have been available on Seoul Metro's official YouTube channel since 10 a.m. Wednesday, and will also be shown to the public through lighting advertisements at select stations and the agency's promotional channels.
Lee Hyeon-u, head of Seoul Metro's public relations division, thanked participants for expressing the diverse stories they have experienced on the subway through creative videos and punchy short-form content. "We plan to further strengthen communication with citizens through a variety of participatory programs," he said. "We look forward to seeing this contest grow and develop further with each passing year."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
