Jakarta, June 28, 2025 – Students from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), once again demonstrated their excellence in the prestigious event The 23rd K-Speech Contest, organized by the K-Speech Eloquence Association Indonesia at Lotte 360 Shopping Avenue, Jakarta. This event brought together various universities from across Indonesia and served as a platform for showcasing Korean language public speaking skills as well as cultural performances.
The UGM team arrived at the venue before 9:00 AM WIB to participate in the rehearsal. As part of the cultural segment, the talchum team (Korean mask dance) performed a traditional Korean dance to represent Korean culture on behalf of UGM. The competition began with the Big Group category, featuring teams from UNAS, UGM, and UI.
UGM’s Big Group team, consisting of 20 members, successfully won First Place and was awarded a prize of IDR 5,000,000 along with medals. This victory was the result of the team’s intensive preparation and impressive coordination on stage.
Following the Big Group category, the contest proceeded to the Individual and Small Team (2–3 persons) categories. UGM’s individual representative, Oryza Sativa Rosyadi (Class of 2023), delivered a speech titled “Dreams of Youth.” For the Small Team category, UGM sent two teams. The first team, consisting of Adzini, Layla, and Mulya, delivered a speech on equal rights for individuals who use sign language. The second team, composed of Tamara, Theresia, and Nasywa, presented a speech on the role of K-pop fans in today’s democratic movements, both in Korea and Indonesia. Although they did not secure a win in the individual and small team categories, all UGM participants showcased their best performances and gained meaningful and memorable experiences.
Participants from UGM’s Korean Language and Culture Study Program shared their impressions and reflections after the competition. Theresia Chindyawati (Class of 2024) expressed that delivering a speech in a small group was a new and memorable experience. For her and her team, winning was not the main goal. Simply standing on stage and delivering the speech they had worked hard to prepare was already a source of pride. She also extended her gratitude to the lecturers and friends who provided guidance and support. Through this experience, she realized that public speaking is not as intimidating as it seemed and instead found new courage and confidence for the future.
Meanwhile, Difta Sakina (Class of 2023) also shared how meaningful her experience was in the Big Group category. She emphasized the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and mutual trust within the group. Difta expressed her appreciation to their advisor, Ms. Alfiana, as well as to the lecturers and friends who continuously supported them throughout their practice and performance. For her, uniting voices, roles, and spirit in a large team was challenging but deeply rewarding.
On the other hand, Oryza Sativa Rosyadi (Class of 2023), who participated in the individual category for the first time in an offline setting, described her emotions as a mix of nervousness, fear of forgetting her speech, and excitement at the opportunity to speak in front of many people. For her, winning was merely a bonus. The true value lay in the experience of standing on stage and delivering a heartfelt speech before an unfamiliar audience. She believes this experience will greatly contribute to her growth in the future.
The participation of UGM students in The 23rd K-Speech Contest not only reflects their strong Korean language skills but also highlights their spirit and courage. Through this valuable experience, the participants returned with both achievements and meaningful lessons that foster confidence and motivation to continue growing.
(Nisa Khairuna Sabilla/Sherina Azmi)
