KT&G, led by President Baek Bok-in, is pleased to announce the recruitment of Korean photographers for KT&G KOPF (Sangsangmadang Korean Photographer's Fellowship) through the 30th of this month.

The KT&G Sangsang Madang SKOPF is an artist support program at KT&G Sangsang Madang, which is aimed at identifying and nurturing emerging photographers who have a strong potential for growth. As a result of its 14 editions, the program has produced 45 new photographers since 2008.

The contest is open to all photographers of Korean nationality. Applications may be downloaded and completed from the official website of KT&G Sangsang Madang ( www.sangsangmadang.com ) and submitted online with portfolios.

In order to ensure the quality of the candidates, three screenings will be conducted through rigorous procedures, led by professional judges from the cultural and artistic fields. The initial portfolio review will select ten candidates in the first stage. After the work description presentation and in-depth interviews, three photographers will be selected as photographers of the year.

Three photographers selected through the "KT&G SKOPF" contest will receive mentoring and support for approximately six months. Following the online and offline presentations of public work, a third round of screening will be conducted in early December, and a professional judge will select the final photographer of the year.

Three photographers have been selected as winners of this year's "KT&G SKOPF" contest, and each will receive an activity subsidy of approximately 6 million won, as well as the opportunity to hold a group exhibition. A photographer selected as the year's final winner will also be entitled to receive support benefits worth 27 million won to hold a personal exhibition, including 9 million won worth of activity subsidies.

As stated by Shim Young-ah, the head of KT&G's social contribution division, the "KT&G SKOPF" contest is designed to discover young photographers who will become leaders in the Korean photography industry. Additionally, she stated that the organization would continue to contribute to the sustainable development of culture and the arts.

(Photo description) The poster image for the 14th KT&G SKOPF contest