Gangbuk-gu Sings Democracy... '1st National April 19 Choir Competition' Held

April 12 Opening of the 1st National 4·19 Choir Competition at the Special Stage of the National 4·19 Democratic Cemetery
419 Participants Including Finalists Sing "Song of 4·19," Grand Prize (Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Award) Won by Yongsan-gu Choir

Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) held the inaugural “1st National 4·19 Choir Competition” as a new program of the representative cultural festival “4·19 Revolution National Cultural Festival 2024” on the afternoon of the 12th at the National 4·19 Democratic Cemetery in Suyu-dong.

The National 4·19 Choir Competition is a meaningful event held to widely promote the “4·19 democratic ideals resisting injustice” stated in the preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and to share them with the public through song.

After preliminary rounds, 12 adult choirs from across the country that advanced to the finals competed on a special stage in front of the “Flame of Justice” statue with free-choice songs themed on the freedom, democracy, and justice of the 4·19 revolutionary spirit.

After the competition, 419 participants performed a grand choir singing the songs of 4·19, creating a moving spectacle for the audience.

On this day, the grand prize was awarded to the Yongsan-gu Choir, receiving the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Award and a prize of 5 million won. The Excellence Award (Seoul Mayor’s Award, 3 million won) went to the Gwangjin-gu Women’s Choir; the Merit Award (Gangbuk-gu Mayor’s Award, 2 million won) was given to the Yuseong-gu Women’s Choir and Dobong-gu Women’s Choir; and the Encouragement Award (Chairman’s Award, 1 million won) was awarded to the Gwangju Women’s Choir and Seongdong-gu Senior Choir.

Meanwhile, the 4·19 Revolution National Cultural Festival 2024, which began on April 12 with the National Choir Competition, will continue with various cultural experience programs throughout Gangbuk-gu until April 19.

In particular, on April 18 from 1 p.m., a citizen participation and exhibition program along with the official pre-event “Rak (樂) Music Festival” will be held from Gangbuk-gu Office Intersection to Gwangsan Intersection.