Organizer Information
The JEJU International PHOTO Contest is co-hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Dong-A Ilbo, one of South Korea's major daily newspapers. Now in its 18th edition, the contest has grown into an internationally recognized event, drawing participants from over 30 countries around the world, including Korea. It is held annually to celebrate Jeju Island's status as a UNESCO Triple Crown site — recognized as a World Natural Heritage, Biosphere Reserve, and Global Geopark — and this year's edition marks the 2026 World Heritage Festival. Winners are traditionally announced through Dong-A Ilbo's own news coverage as well as the contest's official website, reflecting the newspaper's role as co-organizer and publicity partner for the event.
Title & Description
The 18th JEJU International PHOTO Contest — Celebrating the 2026 World Heritage Festival
The JEJU International PHOTO Contest invites photographers of any nationality or background to submit images capturing Jeju Island's landscapes, nature, culture, and public tourist attractions. The contest accepts color, black-and-white, digital, film, and drone photography, and this edition explicitly allows composite or AI-assisted images, provided the base image was originally photographed by the applicant and any generative AI use is disclosed. The event is organized to encourage global audiences to discover and celebrate Jeju Island, which holds UNESCO's "Triple Crown" distinction.
Theme
Jeju Island — its landscapes, nature, culture, and public tourist attractions, framed around the island's UNESCO Triple Crown heritage and the 2026 World Heritage Festival.
Categories
- Photography
Eligibility
- Open to anyone who loves Jeju, regardless of nationality or background
- Only works photographed on or after October 7, 2025, are eligible for submission
Program Benefits & Awards
- Total Prize Money: 5,800,000 KRW across 14 winners
- Grand Prize (1): 2,500,000 KRW + Certificate
- Gold Prize (1): 1,500,000 KRW + Certificate
- Silver Prize (2): 500,000 KRW each + Certificate
- Bronze Prize (1): 300,000 KRW + Certificate
- Fine Work Prize (15): 100,000 KRW each + Certificate
- All prize amounts include tax
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 21 September 2026
- Judging & Announcement: October – November 2026
- Eligible Photography Period: on or after October 7, 2025
Location
Jeju Island, South Korea
Additional Details
- Entries may be disqualified and awards annulled for: incomplete or false applications, violation of third-party rights (including portrait rights or copyright), the entrant not holding original copyright, plagiarism or submission to multiple contests, fully AI-generated works, composite works based on images not photographed by the entrant, failure to submit requested documents, unauthorized drone photography, or photos taken in private/restricted areas without permission
- Applicants are solely responsible for any copyright or portrait rights issues arising from their submitted works
- The organizer reserves the right to use awarded works for public interest promotional purposes, and may acquire partial copyrights or request extended usage rights subject to separate agreement
- Awards obtained through fraudulent means may be canceled, with prize money reclaimed and legal liability imposed
- The judging panel's composition, evaluation criteria, and results are confidential and not subject to appeal
- Entries must not be submitted to other contests
- Winners will be announced via Dong-A Ilbo and the official website