[2023 Culture and Arts Education Festival]②Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendations Awarded to Kim Juwon, Choi Wonseok, and Hwang Yeonjeong

The '2023 Korea Culture and Arts Education Festival,' hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service, successfully concluded on the 1st.

The closing ceremony of the festival, the '2023 Korea Culture and Arts Education Awards,' was held at the National Theater's Sky Theater, where 22 awards were presented to various culture and arts education entities (institutions, organizations, individuals), including seven commendations from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Below are the main awardees and their activities.

▲Commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Ballerina Kim Juwon

◆Juwon Kim, Ballerina. Culture and Arts Education Ambassador & Artistic Director

As a culture and arts education ambassador and artistic director, she promoted the importance of public culture and arts education policies through various projects and media outlets, significantly contributing to the spread of the value of culture and arts education among the general public. In particular, she served as the ambassador for the ‘Dream Dance Team,’ a support project for cultural and artistic activities for vulnerable children and youth, and worked as the artistic director for this year’s ‘National Empathy Project Dance.’ She strived to popularize dance arts education and contributed to creating a quality cultural and arts education environment in frontline schools through the production and dissemination of 'Neulbom Arts School' content linked to the Neulbom School national task.

Choi Won-seok, Head of Space Design Department, Korea Educational Broadcasting System

◆Wonseok Choi, Manager (Korea Educational Broadcasting System, Space Design Department)

He oversaw the planning and production of high-quality culture and arts education broadcasting video content linked to culture and arts education policy projects, greatly contributing to raising public awareness of culture and arts education and expanding its base. Since 2017, through cooperative projects between the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service and EBS, he has improved the quality of culture and arts education broadcasting content and continuously worked to effectively disseminate produced and developed content through offline exhibitions and events such as the 'Korea Culture and Arts Education Festival Opening Exhibition - LINK' and 'VOICE: 7 Symbols,' as well as book publications.

Hwang Yeonjeong, Team Leader at Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and Gyeonggi Arts Education Support Center

◆Yeonjeong Hwang, Team Leader (Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation · Gyeonggi Arts Education Support Center)

She supported cooperation between cultural foundations in Gyeonggi Province’s cities and counties and cultural and arts education organizations. She contributed significantly to the development of regional culture and arts education and the improvement of cultural enjoyment conditions for Gyeonggi residents by establishing the 2nd Gyeonggi Culture and Arts Education Plan (2023?2027), strengthening the capabilities of arts educators, and pioneering cultural and arts education markets. Additionally, she contributed to the advancement of national culture and arts education by participating as a member of the regional cooperation committee subcommittee and the task force (TF) for improving the cultural and arts educator system to implement effective culture and arts education policies at the central level.

▲Commendation from the President of the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service

Jang Yehwa, Art Instructor

◆Yehwa Jang, Arts Instructor

Since 2007, as an arts instructor in the music field, she has worked to provide culture and arts education in local child welfare facilities and to expand and revitalize the significance of culture and arts education in welfare institutions. She researches, plans, and operates culture and arts education tailored to the characteristics of different target groups and fields, enabling children and youth to express themselves through art and experience positive changes in their lives, thereby exerting a positive influence on the activation of culture and arts education in welfare institutions.

Gosin University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation Cultural Arts Healing Program Activities

◆Kosin University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation

Since 2016, it has participated in the ‘Culture and Arts Healing Program Support Project,’ operating dementia relief centers, mental health welfare centers, and culture and arts healing programs. It has planned integrated programs based on music, including art, movement, and film, and through group music therapy programs, it has contributed to restoring social relationships by improving self-emotion regulation and self-esteem, enhancing relational communication skills for individuals experiencing psychological and emotional difficulties.

▲Commendation from the President of the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service

Jungbu University Kkumdarak Culture and Arts School Activities

◆Joongbu University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation

Since 2014, it has participated in the ‘Dream Darak Culture and Arts School’ project, collaborating organically with local governments, regional education offices, and welfare centers, contributing to the expansion and sustainability of culture and arts education in the region. Based on research and consideration of the lives of diverse groups from children and youth to middle-aged and elderly, it has developed and operated high-quality culture and arts education programs and worked to instill the necessity of culture and arts education in the local community.

▲Shinhan Bank Institutional Group Award

◆Sokri Elementary School, Chungbuk

By continuously operating the Art Flower Seed School (4 years) and Sprout School (2 years) for six years, it has greatly contributed to spreading accumulated achievements to the local community and establishing a foundation for quality culture and arts education within public education. Students have experienced holistic growth and improved artistic expression through musicals over six years. The curriculum, which links subjects with local history and arts, has gained support from parents and the local community, and with Shinhan Bank’s donation sponsorship, the Art Flower Sprout School was successfully completed, becoming a representative excellent case of public-private cooperation-based culture and arts education social contribution activities.