Nami Island in South Korea, located 60 kilometers from Seoul, attracts more and more tourists each year. The island is home to the fairy-tale republic of Naminara, which has its own currency, passport, and flag. There is a Fairy Tale Village and a Song Museum, routes are laid out through the parks, and all power lines are buried underground to ensure that nothing interferes with the enjoyment of nature. But most importantly, the island hosts the NAMBOOK children’s book festival, held every two years.

It all began in 2004, when an exhibition of illustrations to Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales was held in Seoul to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the author’s birth. The exhibition later moved to a restored art center on Nami Island, and in 2005 the international NAMBOOK festival was held there for the first time. In 2012, the Nami Island International Illustration Concours was launched. In its first year alone, artists from 42 countries submitted entries.

The Nami contest is very accessible: submissions (even unpublished works) can be sent online, and there is no membership fee. The main requirement is that the illustrations form a story, and one artist can submit several series at once.

An international jury first creates a shortlist and then selects the finalists. The works of the finalists are exhibited not only in Korea during the festival but also at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Several awards are presented at Nami: Grand Prix ($10,000), Golden Island ($5,000), Green Island ($2,000), and Purple Island (certificate).

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