Woo Seo-yoon, daughter of Woo Ji-won, crowned Miss Korea 'Jin'

At the 70th Miss Korea Pageant, Woo Seo-yoon (22, Seoul/Gyeonggi-do/Incheon runner-up) rose to the highest honor, 'Jin.' As Miss Korea celebrates its 70th anniversary since its launch in 1957, this year's competition held special significance by expanding its scope beyond a simple beauty contest to a stage that showcases individuality, capability, and cultural sensitivity.

The final round of the 70th Miss Korea Pageant, hosted by GLOBAL E&B on the 22nd, was held at the COEX Auditorium in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The event was hosted by broadcaster Oh Sang Jin and the 68th Miss Korea 'Sun,' Park Hee-sun, with 26 finalists selected through eight regional competitions across the country taking the final stage.

Considering the symbolic 70th anniversary, this year's competition actively integrated cultural and artistic elements into the traditional beauty pageant format. During the first part's opening, the Gaon Soloists, a chamber music ensemble featuring both disabled and non-disabled musicians, and the Raphael Chorus, a choir for the visually impaired, graced the stage. It was also announced that a portion of the proceeds from the 'Miss Korea Popularity Award' voting would be donated to the Raphael Chorus.

The contestants signaled the start of intense competition through a performance of Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous,' and the deaf boy group Big Ocean also delivered a performance. Since its founding, Big Ocean has been a group that has expanded social awareness of disabilities through performances combining music and sign language, and they once again delivered congratulatory messages using sign language on this day.

In the second part, the festive atmosphere continued with performances by the girl group Billlie, composer Kim Hyo-geun, vocalists Choi Jung-won and Kim Seong-gyeol, and the children's choir Lime Tree Friends.

As it marked the 70th anniversary, congratulatory messages from past Miss Korea winners were also released. Yum Jung Ah (1991 'Sun'), Kim Sung-ryung (1988 'Jin'), Oh Hyun-kyung (1989 'Jin'), and Lee Ha-nee (2006 'Jin') sent messages of congratulations and support to their juniors.

In particular, Lee reflected on the significance of the 70th anniversary, noting that 2006, the year she was crowned, was the 50th anniversary of the pageant. While Miss Korea previously focused on selecting individuals who represented 'Korean beauty,' the new challenge has emerged as how to demonstrate the cultural diversity and individual potential inherent in Korean society.

The crown, produced to commemorate the 70th anniversary, was also presented as a symbol of this change. Created by jewelry artist Jamie Kim, the crown utilized the design principles of Hangeul and Hunminjeongeum under the concept of a 'K-Crown.' By using Hangeul as a core design motif—following traditional Hanok or Seoul's urban landscapes—the crown reinterpreted Korean identity through modern jewelry design.

The competition among contestants also did not focus solely on external beauty. The 26 finalists showcased their individuality, expressive power, and capabilities through training camps and variety show filming. It was evaluated that the process of how traditional beauty pageants have expanded the concept of 'beauty' in response to changing times was evident in this competition.

After fierce competition, Woo Seo-yoon was named the protagonist of the 70th 'Jin.' A Fine Arts major at Tufts University, Woo is also known as the daughter of broadcaster Woo Ji-won, a former professional basketball player. She gained public recognition through appearances on tvN STORY's variety show 'My Kid's Romance,' and it is reported that she dreams of becoming a global art curator in the future.

Immediately after her win, Woo expressed her feelings, saying, "I actually didn't expect this at all. My fellow 70th class members worked so hard, and I am so happy." She continued by thanking her family and friends for their support, adding, "I believe this stage was made possible through the hard work and effort of so many people."

A symbolic weight greater than just the title of Miss Korea 'Jin' has been bestowed upon Woo. This is because she is the first recipient of the monumental crown in the 70-year history of the pageant. This is also why attention is focused on whether Miss Korea can transform from staying within traditional standards of beauty into a platform that encompasses art, culture, and social messages.

The 'Sun' (Goodness) title went to Oh Su-min (25, Jeolla/Gwangju/Jeju runner-up, Waseda University International Liberal Arts), and 'Mi' (Beauty) went to Lee Min-sol (21, Busan/Ulsan, Yonsei University Underwood International College Economics). 'Ye' (Art) was awarded to Noh Hyang (20, Seoul/Gyeonggi-do/Incheon runner-up, Seoul National University Korean Music), and 'Jae' (Talent) was awarded to Lee So-min (27, Seoul/Gyeonggi-do/Incheon runner-up, Hannover University of Music).

The Friendship Award, chosen by the contestants, went to Lee So-min, while the Popularity Award, decided by public vote, went to Seo Ye-eun (21, Gyeongnam runner-up, Dankook University Dance major).

Over the 70-year history, social perspectives on Miss Korea have shifted significantly. While the pageant was once primarily judged on physical beauty, it has recently evolved to highlight the contestants' academic backgrounds, expertise, cultural capabilities, and social messages.

Consequently, the journey of Woo Seo-yoon, the 70th crown winner, is expected to serve as a prime example of how the long-standing Miss Korea brand will redefine 'Korean beauty' moving forward. The history of the pageant, which began in 1957, has now entered a new chapter as it marches toward its 100th anniversary.