From April 12 to May 16, the Human Rights Center at Hanyang University held a photography contest centered on human rights. The contest was open to all students at the Seoul Campus and invited original submissions featuring human rights-related themes captured through students’ own lenses. The purpose of the contest was to highlight and reflect on human rights issues embedded in everyday life while fostering greater awareness and sensitivity. Let us take a closer look at the seven winning photographs.

Jeon’s photograph features an entrance for people with disabilities at a building. While the facility meets the technical requirements for accessibility, Jeon’s lens draws attention to its placement in a secluded and marginal area of the structure. It reflects a reality in which physical access exists, but psychological and social inclusion is absent. “In a society where not everyone can pass through the same door, where does real equality begin?” Jeon asks. “This photo confronts the ‘invisible walls’ faced by many in their daily lives.”

Yoo’s photo captures his friend Hwang Deok-hyun, a wheelchair user, embarking on a trip around the world. “Although Hwang once thought his disability would prevent him from traveling, we journeyed together across multiple countries, proving that a wheelchair is not a limitation but a means of freedom,” he said. Hwang added, “This image speaks to the potential, dignity, and dreams within the word ‘disability.’ Practicing love isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about standing beside someone and protecting their rights together.”

Yoo’s photo shows buildings slated for demolition as part of a redevelopment project. Traces of residents’ protests remain etched on the walls. “Even after painting over the vacant homes in solidarity with evictees, the pain of their forced removal remains,” Yoo shared. “The people who once stood on watchtowers are gone, but the cries on the walls and shutters continue to resist.” She questions, “Should the memory of a street that was once someone’s home, livelihood, and daily life survive merely as ‘art’? That thought fills me with a sense of indebtedness.”

Hong’s photo features an installation by the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination. The text on the display is worn and difficult to decipher. “It looks as if someone tried to peel off the stickers—words like ‘ministry of health and welfare’ and ‘deinstitutionalization’ are faintly visible,” said Hong. “This symbolizes how society erases and ignores the voices and rights of people with disabilities.”

Jo’s photograph captures a bulletin board filled with handwritten sticky notes of encouragement. “While observing student teachers, I noticed how students wrote cheers for themselves—yet even those words were framed by academic performance,” she said. “Human rights are flowers that bloom beyond grades. They don’t blossom through numbers, but through firm ground, warm sunlight, and patient waiting.” She continued, “Can we truly say we are raising children in an environment of respect and empathy, not repression? I long for the spring when children are loved simply for being.”

Lee’s photograph shows a backpack adorned with human rights-themed keyrings and badges. “I decorated my school bag with these symbols as a small act to keep the value of human rights close in everyday life,” Lee said. “I hope each keyring becomes a comfort for someone, or a promise for someone else.”

Kang’s image features a shadow smiling with white pebbles arranged as a face. “A shadow stays where its source exists, but no one regards a shadow as a being,” Kang explained. “This photo represents the overlooked presence of marginalized and invisible people in society.” She added, “Just because something is unseen doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I wanted to deliver the message that every being deserves equal respect—that’s the essence of human rights.”