University-run art competition sparks outrage over reminder of tragedy

(Dan Tri) - A drawing contest organized by Suwon University (South Korea) for high school students is causing controversy in public opinion. The question asked contestants to depict the pilot's face before the plane crashed.

The question posed by Suwon University was deemed insensitive, referring to the tragic accident of Jeju Air (South Korea) that occurred on December 29, 2024 in Muan (South Korea). The incident killed 179 out of 181 people on board flight number 2216.

This July, Suwon University held a drawing contest for high school students. One of the two assignments asked contestants to “depict the face of the pilot just before the plane crashed.”

Suwon University (South Korea) is embroiled in controversy over the way it set the questions for a drawing competition (Photo: Straits Times).

The controversial topic was chosen by 39 contestants. News of the contest immediately sparked strong criticism from the Korean public. Many people said that the topic given by Suwon University reminded them of the tragic incident.

What made the public even more indignant was that the question also provided some additional information for candidates to... easily visualize. Specifically, the pilot character was "a man in his 40s", this information coincided with the information about the pilot on the Jeju Air flight that crashed.

"We admit that there were problems in the management and approval of the contest's topics. The school would like to sincerely apologize to the public for creating unnecessary controversy and rekindling the pain of many families," a representative of Suwon University made an official statement to the Korean press.

Representatives of the families of the victims on Jeju Air flight 2216 and representatives of the Korean Pilots Association strongly protested the way Suwon University created the drawing exam questions.

In an official statement, the victims' families said the drawing contest was disrespectful to the pilots, as well as to the families of the passengers who died in the tragic accident.

The Korean Pilots Association said it is considering taking legal action against Suwon University to the education authority.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/cuoc-thi-ve-do-truong-dai-hoc-to-chuc-gay-phan-no-vi-goi-nhac-toi-tham-kich-20250729111343699.htm