Yoo Byungheon, Artistic Director of Universal Ballet, Receives the 27th Korea Ballet Association Grand Prize

'Dangsoeur Noblesse Award' An Joo-won · 'Prima Ballerina Award' Jo Yeon-jae

Jae-hong Park, President of the Korea Ballet Association (left), and Byung-heon Yoo, Artistic Director of Universal Ballet. Photo by Korea Ballet Association

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Korea Ballet Association announced on the 19th that it has selected Yoo Byungheon, Artistic Director of Universal Ballet, as the Grand Prize winner of the 27th Korea Ballet Association Awards.

The Korea Ballet Association Awards are given to ballet artists who have contributed to the development of ballet art over the past year. Director Yoo, who received the grand prize this time, was recognized for his contributions to the advancement of ballet through over 20 years of work as an artistic director and choreographer.

The Korea Ballet Association stated on this day, "Artistic Director Yoo was selected for the award in recognition of his outstanding artistic activities as the artistic director and choreographer of Universal Ballet over the past 20 years, greatly contributing to the development of ballet." Director Yoo said, "I am honored and will repay this with even more vigorous activities in the future."

The 'Danseur Noble Award,' given to the best male ballet dancer, went to Ahn Juwon, who became the first Korean ballet dancer to be appointed principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre in the United States.

The 'Prima Ballerina Award,' given to the best female ballet dancer, was awarded to Jo Yeonjae, a member of the National Ballet Company. The New Ballerina Award was jointly awarded to Gong Yumin, principal dancer of Gwangju City Ballet, and Yoon Haeji, principal dancer of Wise Ballet Company.

The Artist of the Year Award went to Hong Seongwook, Artistic Director of Wise Ballet Company, and the Work of the Year Award was given to Kim Seongmin of Project Cloud Nine Dance Company and Park Taehee, Artistic Director of Incheon City Ballet.

The 'Diaghilev Award,' given to patrons who contributed to the development of ballet, was awarded to Lee Byunggi, CEO of Shinshin Pharmaceutical, and the 'Ballet Educator of the Year Award' was given to Choi Bo-in, instructor at Kaywon High School of Arts.

The special 'Honored Parent Award' went to Kim Youngae, mother of sisters Park Seulgi and Park Nari of the National Ballet Company, and the Merit Award was given to Kim Suyeon, Deputy Director of Wise Ballet Company, and Yang Jeongwon, full-time professor at the College of Integrated Medicine, CHA University.