Seosan City and Chungnam Province Present Certificate of Recognition to Holder of Intangible Cultural Heritage Seungmu

Lee Aeri, Passed Down from Master Shim Hwayoung
Recognized by Chungnam Province on September 30

A ceremony awarding the certificate of recognition to Lee Aeri, the holder of Chungnam Province's intangible cultural heritage 'Seungmu,' held on the 13th in the mayor's office of Seosan City Hall, Chungnam. /Seosan City

On the 13th, Seosan City in Chungnam announced that it held a certificate presentation ceremony at the mayor's office and delivered a certificate of recognition to Lee Aeri, the holder of the Chungnam Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Seungmu'.

The ceremony was attended by Seosan Mayor Lee Wan-seop, Kim Kyungho, President of the Junggoje Pansori Preservation Association, Baek Jongshin, President of the Seosan Cultural Center, and Lee Aeri.

Lee Aeri, who received the certificate, is the granddaughter of the late Master Sim Hwayoung and a member of the Cheongsong Sim family of artists represented by Sim Jeongsun (1873~1937). She inherited Seungmu from Master Sim Hwayoung.

Having honed her skills in Seungmu performance for about 30 years, Lee Aeri has made significant contributions as a Seungmu transmission educator in terms of performance skills, ability, and transmission activities. As a result, on September 30, she was recognized as the holder of Chungcheongnam-do Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Seungmu'.

Currently, she serves as the president of the Sim Hwayoung Seungmu Preservation Association and as a director of the Junggoje Pansori Preservation Association, dedicating herself to the transmission of Sim Hwayoung-style Seungmu and other Junggoje traditional performing arts.

Holder Lee Aeri said, "With the determination to inherit my grandmother Sim Hwayoung's Seungmu and continue the tradition of the Cheongsong Sim family, I have continued the transmission activities alone. I am deeply moved to finally be recognized as a holder, which has been my long-cherished wish, and I will carry on the transmission with even greater responsibility and sense of duty."

Seosan Mayor Lee Wan-seop said, "When you watch a Seungmu performance, you can feel the aesthetics of slowness in every hand and foot movement. I hope that Seungmu will continue to be stably transmitted, centered around holder Lee Aeri."

Meanwhile, Sim Hwayoung-style Seungmu is a 1930s form of Seungmu that has not yet been staged. It begins in a standing position and the Yeombul rhythm consists of only six patterns. The dance is characterized by restrained fast movements, a simple and pure style, and natural choreography that harmonizes the dancer's feelings with the dance itself.