Final Round of the 4th Market Economy Speech Contest

On February 11, 2026, the finals of the 4th Market Economy Speech Contest were held at Pureun Hall. Although the weather was cold, the atmosphere at the venue was heated by the participants’ passion. The finalists vividly shared fresh insights on the importance of freedom and the market economy, which are needed throughout our society.

Of the 32 finalists, 13 received awards. We would like to extend our encouragement and gratitude to everyone who participated, and we ask for your continued interest in the Center for Free Enterprise (CFE).

□ Date and Time: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 1:30 PM

□ Venue: Pureun Hall

□ Award Recipients

[Grand Prize] - 2 recipients

- Hyemin Park (The Cost of University Tuition Regulation Passed On to Workers)

- Chaemin Kim (Protecting Intellectual Property Rights: The Foundation of Fair Competition)

[Excellence Award] - 5 recipients

- Byunggyu Lim (Measures to Improve Labor Market Flexibility in Korea)

- Minjin Jung (Protectionism: The Wall of Isolation That Blocks Growth)

- Donghyun Yoon (The Economic Paradox Brought by the Silence of Prices: Restore the Language of the Market)

- Bonhae Koo (A Market Economy Solution to Weather Exchange Rate Volatility: Korea-Japan Economic Solidarity)

- Yean Lee (Pouring Subsidies into Bottomless Monthly Rent)

[Merit Award] - 6 recipients

- Eunwoo Kim (The Need for Deliberation on the Amendment to the Press Arbitration Act, for a Free Republic of Korea)

- Jaeyoung Jang (“Discount or Distortion?: How Local Currency and Onnuri Gift Certificates Undermine Price Signals”)

- Gaon Kim (Why Inheritance and Family Business Succession Are Not “Unfair” but “Mechanisms for Growth”)

- Chanyoung Kim (Measures for Regulatory Reform to Strengthen Business Competitiveness)

- Sarang Kwon (The Paradox of the Platform Fairness Act: Fairness Is Not Equality)

- Jiyul Lee (Onnuri Gift Certificates: A Free Market Economy Trapped in Pieces of Paper)

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Original title: 제4회 시장경제 스피치대회 결선

Author: Center for Free Enterprise (CFE)

Date: 2026-02-11

Source: https://www.cfe.org/bbs/bbsDetail.php?cid=event&pn=1&idx=28602