InterviewUkrainian student crowned third at Korea's iconic beauty pageant
Herasymenko Anhelina, 23, a Ukrainian graduate student who placed third at the Global Chunhyang Selection Contest, poses in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, April 30. Captured from Instagram
Herasymenko Anhelina, 23, a Ukrainian graduate student at Kyungpook National University who is also known as Lina, claimed third place at a beauty pageant honoring one of Korea's most beloved literary figures.
The win marks the second consecutive year a foreign student has taken an award at the Global Chunhyang Selection Contest, reflecting its push to expand its international reach.
Last week's contest in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, named Herasymenko as Chunhyang Mi, the third of six titles — Jin, Seon, Mi, Jeong, Suk and Hyeon.
“As Chunhyang Mi, I hope not only to deepen my own connection with Korea, but also to become a bridge through which others can form their own meaningful relationships with this country,” Lina told The Korea Times, adding that she hopes to help others experience Korea as more than just a destination.
Lina said her interest in Korean traditional culture began in early adolescence. Over the years, she earned a Korean language teaching certification through the King Sejong Institute, and received a Korean government scholarship to pursue a master's degree in media and communication.
The journey was not easy. During eight years of study in Europe, she had no access to Korean studies programs, yet kept her grades up while working three part-time jobs.
“Being able to come to Korea as a government-invited student felt like the culmination of that devotion, a moment where perseverance transformed into reality,” she said.
“Grateful for every step that led me here, every lesson that shaped me and every person who walked this path with me. It still feels like a dream unfolding,” Lina wrote on social media. “I will continue to grow, staying true to myself as a Chunhyang, carrying the beauty of Namwon and the charming spirit of Korean traditions into the world.”
The contest is part of the Namwon Chunhyang Festival, founded in 1931 during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial era, when local residents came together to honor the spirit of Chunhyang and preserve national pride. Chunhyang is the virtuous fictional heroine of a 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty classic who defied a corrupt magistrate to remain faithful to her lover.
Held each year in May, the festival takes place around Namwon Gwanghallu, a site recognized for its architectural significance and nearly 400 years of cultural history that is set to be designated a National Treasure.
Now in its 96th year, the competition opened its doors to foreign participants in 2024 to promote globalization. Last year, Laura-Mai Schults, an Estonian student at Seoul National University Language Education Institute, took the title of Chunhyang Hyeon.