Film Forum Hosts the 2026 Youthful Praise Film Festival in Seoul
An imposing tally of 228 video entries narrowed down to 28 selected works as the Military Manpower Administration moved its award ceremony directly onto a cinema screen on Nov. 4, 2026. The agency hosted the “2026 Youthful Praise Film Festival” at the Film Forum in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, marking the first time the event’s award ceremony was held in a theater and giving creators the experience of seeing their military-themed media projects play in a real theater.
The competition ran under the guiding banner “Youth’s Journey, Talking About Military Service,” logging 100 days of open submissions before organizers locked in the final roster of 28 recognized projects. Moving the event to a public movie house allowed filmmakers to interact face-to-face with an audience that sat through the slate of screenings.
Top Honors Go to Films on Voluntary Enlistment and Anxiety
The grand prize went to Kim Wumin for the video titled “A Glorious Medal of My Youth,” which tackles the raw, practical anxieties of a 20-year-old on the verge of mandatory enlistment while framing military service as an engine for personal growth rather than a dead-end break in a career path. Meanwhile, the hwiwasoo team secured the top runner-up prize with “Like a Longing Song,” a project that chronicles an individual’s journey of returning from long-term overseas residency to voluntarily enlist, utilizing artificial intelligence software to add dramatic elements to the telling of that journey.
Before the main awards ceremony began, attendees walked a dedicated photo wall and browsed an exhibition showcasing movie posters designed for each of the 28 featured submissions.
Officials and Filmmakers Debate the Value of Mandatory Service
Following the awards presentation and the premiere screenings, Military Manpower Administration Vice Commissioner Kim Yongmu and Film Festival Jury Chairman Kim Heon—who also serves as a professor at Hanyang University—sat down with the winners for a moderated discussion panel. The participants traded perspectives on how video production can effectively capture the underlying weight and societal significance of fulfilling national military obligations.
Vice Commissioner Kim Yongmu addressed the room during the program, stating that watching citizen-produced stories play out on a proper cinema screen carried a deep personal resonance. He added that the agency plans to keep building platforms where young creators can speak openly about their service so that the cultural value of military duty spreads naturally throughout society.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Youthful Praise Film Festival
How many submissions did the 2026 contest receive?
The Military Manpower Administration received a total of 228 video submissions over a 100-day open application window, from which judges ultimately selected 28 prize-winning projects for the festival lineup.
Where and when did the awards ceremony take place?
The event took place on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at the Film Forum located in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
Who won the grand prize at the event?
Kim Wumin took home the grand prize for the video “A Glorious Medal of My Youth,” which focuses on the real-world worries of a young man facing upcoming enlistment.
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