Pulitzer Prize

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs

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• published: 03 Jul 2014
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Let's shift to the arts and culture scene in Seoul, where a photo exhibition has recently opened. Our Yim Yoonhee joins us for a closer look. Good afternoon, Yoonhee. Good afternoon I heard that this is a photo exhibition featuring Pulitzer Prize winners. That's right. The highly esteemed Pulitzer Prize is awarded annually by the Pulitzer Prize Board to recognize those who excel in journalism and the arts. The photography branch of the award is usually chosen the year after a photo is taken,... and you'll see in just a little bit that each of these pictures,... as the saying goes, is worth a thousand words. Take a look. [VIDEO IN] With the click of a button, a moment in time is captured, and forever preserved,... to be remembered by those within the image, but also to be shared with the rest of the world. That's the motto here,... almost 50 years of history to be shared, as winners of the esteemed Pulitzer Prize. "Joseph Pulitzer was a legend in journalism, and before passing, he created a will, so that people would be recognized and awarded within journalism. A portion of the money he allotted was put towards putting assembling this photojournalist gallery, and through this exhibition you can see the biggest events of the year, for example this year you can see the major events of 2013." There are over 230 different pictures, illustrating the last 50 or so years of our civilization,... years of war and disaster,... family and love. The exhibition has made its round in Korea before, but this time, they've expanded, bringing in additional works from the winning artists. They've created series of events through their pictures, where the viewer can get not just a glimpse of a moment, but a look at a time. Even video interviews have been included, sharing the story of the artist, and more importantly the story behind their winning works. Between the categories of "breaking news" and "feature photography," the stories here range across the scope. "In 1942, the prize was first awarded, then in 1968 they started awarding two prizes for photography. These are this year's winners, and here you can see a victim of the Boston Marathon Bombing. This man was waiting for his girlfriend at the finish line, and then the attack happened, so he lost both legs. But the beautiful thing is his girlfriend waited for him after, and now they're married. It's interesting how this picture at first glance looks like Jesus on the cross." It's not just the pros that are accepted into this hall of fame. This picture shows a fireman, rescuing this child,... a picture taken by your everyday heroes,... because it's everyone's world to share, and it's everyone's moment to capture. These are incredible photographs that really tell the story of people from around the world. What else does this exhibition feature? Actually, they have videos at the exhibition explaining the stories behind the images. It's an interview with the photographer and it explains what happened leading up to the photograph and how the moment was captured. It's a unique aspect of this exhibition that you wouldn't be able to see elsewhere -- say, online. Now with the two categories, "Breaking News" and "Feature Photography," I noticed there were a few pictures of war, including the Korean War. Right. In fact, this exhibition has a special feature, which is a side exhibition with photographs of the Korean War by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Max Desfor. And in honor of the Korean War, 45 additional photographs by Desfor are being exhibited. Titled "The Forgotten War," the exhibition captures the people and their lives here in Korea. One of the most chilling photographs of the exhibition is of of a prisoner of war, with his hands bound, covered in snow. You can see the small hole where he was probably struggling to breathe, but the picture captures this haunting moment of death, something that was all too familiar across the nation at the time. Very powerful images. Now, you mentioned that this isn't the first time the exhibition has been here. Right. This touring exhibition has come to Korea since 1998, and has attracted record-breaking crowds. This year, they are expecting to attract a large crowd again, as these pictures are some of the strongest images in the world. And you have until September to catch them. Thank you for that report. Always a pleasure.