Join the Excitement: 2026 Taean International Horticultural Healing Expo’s Free Healing Song Contest

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The Taean International Horticultural Healing Expo organizing committee announced on March 16 that it will accept applications through April 19 for the 2026 Healing Song Contest, which will run alongside the expo.

The contest, open to all and free to enter, will be held on the expo’s main stage. Contestants will advance to the finals after an online evaluation followed by an on-site preliminary round.

The competition will be judged in three stages. An online evaluation from April 20–24 will select 20 teams. A preliminary round on May 3 at the expo’s main stage will reduce that number to 10 teams.

The final will be held at the same venue on May 17 to determine the winners. Judges will assess musicality and vocal ability, expressive range and creativity, and overall preparedness.

Applicants should submit an entry form and a video of their performance. Submissions may be uploaded as a recorded file or provided via a YouTube link.

Entries are limited to pre-existing, commercially released songs; original compositions and foreign-language pop songs are excluded. Applications must be submitted by email. For further details, contact the Healing Song Contest office.

The total prize pool is 4,700,000 KRW (approximately $3,525). The grand prize team will receive 1,000,000 KRW (approximately $750); two top-prize teams will receive 500,000 KRW (approximately $375) each; three excellence-award teams will receive 300,000 KRW (approximately $225) each; and four encouragement-award teams will receive 200,000 KRW (approximately $150) each.

An organizing committee official said, “The Healing Song Contest will be a stage where people can share their feelings and offer comfort to one another.”

The 2026 Taean International Horticultural Healing Expo will run for one month, April 25–May 24, at Kkotji Coastal Park on Anmyeon-do in Taean County.