The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST), together with the Korean Studies Institute, hosted the 2025 Story Grandma Day event on November 25 (Tuesday) at 12:00 PM at the Daejeon Convention Center. The event included a graduation ceremony for 405 “Storytelling Grandmas” who have completed more than five years of service[1], as well as a completion ceremony for 541 Story Grandmas who have completed their training as part of the 17th recruiting round and will begin their activities next year.

Honoring Story Grandma program graduates, recognizing outstanding trainees, and

Celebrating with a Doran-Doran Bundle of Stories performance and exhibition of past activities

The ceremony began by presenting MCST Minister plaques and gifts to express gratitude to the graduating Story Grandmas who have passionately and devotedly shared traditional Korean folktales and stories celebrating various role models with children for over five years. Among the graduates, four Story Grandmas, Im Jeong-sin (4th-round recruit), Jang Ok-soon (9th), Choi Jin-suk (12th), and Ma Seon-hee (12th), received Ministerial commendations in recognition of their continued volunteer work in addition to their communicative engagement with children. In addition, 27 members of the 17th recruiting round who have achieved top training results were presented with awards of excellence.

Performances were also prepared to heighten the celebratory atmosphere. The story “Gomtijae Tiger” from the fusion storytelling theater production Doran-Doran Bundle of Stories[2], currently touring nationwide, opened the program. Senior performer Lee Seon-jae (certified master of the Gyeonggi Intangible cultural heritage for grass whistle), a member of the Tradition Sharing Grandpa program—a new program launched in 2025—showcased a glass whistle performance on stage, while children from Daejeon Samsung Daycare Center added to the celebrations with a choral performance. An exhibition also highlighted Story Grandma training and activities, along with postcards drawn by young children, sharing the program’s achievements to date.

Over 3,200 Story Grandmas bringing the roots of K-culture to more than 8,300 early childhood education institutions across the nation

The Beautiful Story Grandma program dispatches grandmothers to early childhood education institutions nationwide, where they share traditional folktales and stories of virtuous historical figures with young children. The program aims to foster creativity in future generations and promote intergenerational cultural exchange. As of 2025, more than 3,200 Story Grandmas have actively delivered Korea’s traditional stories to roughly 500,000 children in over 8,300 early childhood education institutions and Neulbom after-school classes in elementary schools.