VIDEO Seo Jae-won crowned Miss Korea 2017

Miss Korea 2017 winner Seo Jae-won, 21, smiles after her victory in the annual beauty pageant at the Universal Arts Center, in Neung-dong, Seoul, Friday. The annual contest was hosted by the Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

By Park Si-soo

Seo Jae-won, 21, who is from Gyeongi Province, won coveted title of Miss Korea 2017 in the final round of the annual beauty pageant in Seoul, Friday.

She is 175.2 cm tall and 54 kg. Seo graduated from Korea National University of the Arts with a degree in Korean ballet.

Jung Da-hye, 21, from Seoul, was the first runner-up and Lee Han-na, 20, from the Philippines, the second runner-up.

The annual beauty pageant was held at the Universal Arts Center in Seoul, Friday. It was hosted by the Hankook Ilbo daily newspaper, sister paper of The Korea Times.

This year marks the 61st year of the Miss Korea pageant, with 51 contestants competing in round one and 33 in the final round.

Winners of 2017 Miss Korea / Korea Times photo by Ryu Ho-jin