Dongseo University Department of Acting Wins Grand Prize at the 27th National College Madangnori Festival

Dongseo University (President Jang Jeguk) and the Department of Acting at the Im Kwon Taek College of Film and Arts have won the Grand Prize, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award, and a prize of 4 million KRW at the 27th National University Madangnori Festival, hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration and organized by the National Heritage Promotion Institute, with their team "Siwooter."

Dongseo University, the grand prize winner at the 27th National University Madangnori Festival.

The 27th National University Madangnori Festival, held in Jeonju, Jeonbuk and organized by the Cultural Heritage Administration, aims to promote folk arts within university communities, discover and foster new talents in traditional Korean music, and contribute to the development of traditional cultural arts, while also providing the public with opportunities to experience traditional culture.

This vibrant festival, filled with passion and excitement, brought together university student teams from across the country to compete in traditional mask dance, Nongak, and folk play categories, all of which are designated as national or provincial intangible cultural heritage.

A total of about 250 students from 10 university clubs nationwide participated in the event, showcasing their skills in the Nongak and mask dance categories that they had honed over time.

This event was held to raise the younger generation's interest in our intangible heritage and to discover outstanding talents in traditional arts. It became a festival where university students could fully express their skills and excitement, while also interacting and networking with each other.

Kang Daehyun (third-year Acting major), president of the Suyeong Yaryu Research Society "Siwooter," which won the Grand Prize, said, "I am extremely proud and happy to receive such a prestigious award at the national competition. I am deeply grateful to everyone who supported us, and I especially thank the Suyeong Yaryu team members who worked so hard, sacrificing their entire summer vacation to prepare for the competition."

Professor Cho Kiwang, the advisor, commented, "It is an honor to be able to promote the prestige and pride of Dongseo University nationwide by inheriting Suyeong Yaryu, one of Korea's beautiful and great traditional cultures. I also thank the university for its generous support."

This award has served as an opportunity to promote the prestige and pride of Dongseo University and the Department of Acting at the Im Kwon Taek College of Film and Arts nationwide. The Department of Acting will continue to carry out various activities aimed at nurturing future-oriented actors while inheriting tradition.

The Department of Acting at Dongseo University has been designated as a transmission school for "Suyeong Yaryu," Busan's traditional mask play, which was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 43 in 1971, and has been carrying on this tradition for 22 years.