Starlike Co., Ltd., led by CEO Chae Byeong Hyo, announced on the 27th the launch of the Korea Subculture Illustration Contest in collaboration with pixiv. This marks the first domestic competition dedicated to subculture-themed illustrations, creating a platform for discovering and supporting talented creators.

The contest, organized by Starlike and hosted by Illustar Fest with support from pixiv, is backed by prominent organizations such as the Korea Creative Content Agency, Game Rating and Administration Committee, Gyeonggi Content Agency, Seongnam Industry Promotion Agency, and Game Culture Foundation. Participants can submit entries under two categories: Fan Art and Original Art. The competition is open to individuals or teams of up to four members residing in Korea, with no age restrictions.

In the Fan Art category, submissions are limited to specific intellectual properties (IP) approved for use by the contest organizers. Eligible IPs include Blue Archive, DJMAX RESPECT V, Arknights, Counterside, and Virtual Idol (이세계아이돌). Additionally, IPs such as Closers, Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, Brown Dust 2, Sixtar Gate, Trickcal Rebirth, Touhou Project, Dungeon Fighter Online, and Cyphers offer special awards granted directly by the copyright holders to one winner per IP.

The Original Art category is open to purely creative works that do not overlap with existing IPs, with no restrictions on genre. However, entries containing explicit adult content or AI-generated elements will be disqualified in both categories.

Each category will award one Grand Prize (National Assembly Member’s Award), one Excellence Award (Seongnam Industry Promotion Agency Director’s Award), and two Merit Awards (Game Culture Foundation Chairman’s Award). Winners will be announced and celebrated on February 9, 2025, at a special stage during Illustar Fest 6 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Illustar Fest is Starlike's flagship subculture event.

Submissions can be made through pixiv, the popular illustration-sharing platform. Participants must tag their entries with designated hashtags—KRsubconFA for the Fan Art category and KRsubconOrg for the Original Art category—to complete their submission.

A representative from Starlike emphasized the contest's mission, stating, “Many creators possess exceptional talent but lack the opportunities to showcase their work to the world. This contest aims to provide a platform for such creators to demonstrate their abilities while contributing to the rapidly growing subculture scene in Korea.”

The Korea Subculture Illustration Contest is poised to become a significant milestone in nurturing local artistic talent and advancing the visibility and appreciation of subculture art within Korea. With support from major organizations and platforms, the contest promises to spotlight rising stars in the creative industry while enriching the domestic subculture landscape.

Sayart / Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com