Read the current Rule Book and the evaluation form for your assigned category. Training should reinforce the difference between historical quality and category-specific clarity of presentation.
The essential Korea judging instructions are included below so judges can prepare without opening a separate portal-guide PDF.
NHD Korea welcomes teachers, administrators, counselors, and other adults committed to careful evaluation and useful student feedback. Prior NHD judging experience is not required unless the current portal states otherwise.
Create a judge account at korea.nhd.org, read the current Contest Rule Book and your category evaluation form, and review assigned digital materials when they become available.
Historical Quality accounts for 80% of evaluation: argument, research, theme connection, context, multiple perspectives, accuracy, and significance. Clarity of Presentation accounts for 20%.
Discuss each entry with the judging team and provide specific, constructive comments that help students understand both the strengths of their work and areas for improvement.
The goal is a fair, consistent, and positive experience. Judges should help students feel proud of their work while providing meaningful written feedback.
Introduce yourself, explain the process briefly, help students feel at ease, and request their process paper and bibliography.
Review the written materials carefully for evidence of understanding, research, and thoroughness.
Evaluate the entry according to its category. Take preliminary notes that you can expand into written feedback later.
Ask about the project, research, and topic. Give students time to answer. Do not offer improvement suggestions during the interview.
Return to the judging room, discuss the entries, and reach team consensus on the projects advancing to the final round.
Each judge writes comments. The team aligns its ratings, and the judge captain submits rankings and feedback through korea.nhd.org.
Use Superior, Excellent, Good, or Needs Improvement. Do not assign points or compare entries with projects from other competitions.
Give every project comparable time and attention. If a student needs clarification, rephrase the question instead of simply repeating it.
Begin with a strength, then frame critical observations as useful suggestions. Feedback matters to students whether or not they advance.