Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim Soon-ho) hosted the 22nd Gurye National Gayageum Competition, organized by the Gayageum Byeongchang Preservation Society (Chairman Kang Jeong-sook), which was successfully held over two days from the 4th to the 5th at the Seomjin Art Hall.
This year’s competition saw a record number of participants, with 272 individuals from 263 teams competing across 14 categories including Gayageum Sanjo, Byeongchang, and creative performances in the elementary, middle, high school, rookie, university, and general divisions nationwide.
The celebratory performances commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the competition featured a variety of acts such as Seogongcheol-style Gayageum Sanjo, Jebino Jeonggi (promotional song), Hwacho Jang (promotional song), original piece Dondolnari, Beokku dance, Taekkyeon and Hanobaeknyeon, and the Gayageum Byeongchang piece Sacheolga.
The judging panel consisted of 12 judges, led by Chairperson Min Ui-sik, Honorary Professor at the Korea National University of Arts’ School of Traditional Arts.
The prestigious Presidential Award (General Division Grand Prize) was awarded to Kim Mi-seong (35, from Namwon City). Kim received a prize of 10 million won and a traditional Gayageum Sanjo instrument from the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Go Heung-gon Korean Music Research Institute as a special award.
The University Division Grand Prize (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award) went to Choi Hoon (Seoul National University), the High School Division Grand Prize to Kim Tae-wan (Korea National University of Traditional Arts High School), the Middle School Division Grand Prize to Oh Jun-hee (Korea National University of Traditional Arts Middle School), the Elementary Division Grand Prize to Lee Yeon-du (Gureumsan Elementary School), and the Rookie Division Grand Prize was awarded to No Ji-hee and nine others (Sejong City Cultural Heritage Transmission Center).
Kim Soon-ho, Governor of Gurye-gun, said, “Through the Gurye National Gayageum Competition, which boasts history and tradition, I hope the sound of the Gayageum resonating in the healing city of Gurye will beautifully blossom the flower of traditional music and spread warm hope and courage throughout the world.”
Kang Jeong-sook, Chairman of the Gayageum Byeongchang Preservation Society, stated, “I am pleased that this year’s competition concluded successfully, and we will do our best to develop the Gurye National Gayageum Competition into the nation’s premier gateway for master musicians of Korean traditional music.”
Gurye = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Mi-seok hss79@asiae.co.kr
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