Republic of Korea Wins IPSC

This article was published on Tuesday 31 May 2011

Jeon Kang from the Republic of Korea has won the 30th International Public Speaking Competition.

Semi Finalist list
IPSC 2011 video

With his speech "Umm...I can't teach?!", Jeon wowed the audience and judges Bilal Mahmood, Lucy Hockings and Andy Russell, at the grand final at HSBC Headquarters in Canary Wharf.

Jeon competed against 81 other national winners in the two-day competition.

After a week of entertainment, training, and cultural exchange, the competition began on Thursday with all 82 competitors delivering their speeches in eight heats in Dartmouth House, and our neighbours the Chesterfield Hotel. The speeches all centred round the theme of the year "words are not enough", with competitors from all over the world speaking up for the need to take action on global issues such as climate change, political oppression and overpopulation. From the 82, the competitors were whittled down to 24 semi-finalists who spoke to packed audiences on Friday on topics they had been given just 15 minutes before taking to the floor.

This new semi-final tested the knowledge and confidence of the competitors as they had four minutes to convince the audience on a range of topics. The atmosphere in the room was palpable, with supporters, staff, and other competitors cheering on all the speakers.

The finalists, Jeon Kang, Germaine Chuabio from the Philippines, Luisa Cassar Pullicino from Malta, Sahil Sanjay Bhattad from India, Caleb Yaw Kudah from Ghana, and Xu Jiru from China, headed with their supporters to HSBC headquarters, where they delivered their original speeches.

After many decisions made by nearly 30 judges over the over the two days of competition, the three judges for the grand final named Jeon the winner, with Sahil Sanjay Bhattad from India the runner up.

Caleb Yaw Kudah from Ghana was given the audience choice award for his emotive speech "For the Love of Country".

As has been the case for the last 30 years, this year's 81 participants have made life-long friendships, learned what it means to be part of the global village and were an absolute pleasure to look after. We’d like to thank the national organisers, the tour guides and teachers at Hampton Court Palace, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Fortune Theatre, and HSBC for sponsoring the competition. See you for the 31st competition in 2012!

Hanna Tu - Belgium

Jonida Ndreu - Albania

Sahil Sanjay Bhattad - India

Shane Chandra - Australia

Erin Singer - Canada

Fernando Imparato - Argentina

Gaston Bruna - Chile

Caleb Yaw Kudah - Ghana

Xu Jiru - China

Chan Chor Kit John - Hong Kong

Sam Ward - England & Wales

Maria Silvia Martinson - Estonia

Aydin Celebi - Turkey

Sondre Barkli - Norway

Natalia Lungu - Moldova

Jeon Wook Kang - South Korea

Ahmad Nawaz - Pakistan

Germaine Chuabio - Philippines

Nathaniel Measias Zacharias - Malaysia

Philip Songkran Upton - Thailand

Luisa Cassar Pullicino - Malta

Mohammed Ali Haiderah Al-Jabri - Yemen

Rime El Atlassi - Morocco

Ioana Roxana Oltean - Romania

By Rita Mesquita Remédio from Portugal