Memorial Ceremony for Former Minister of Culture Lee O-ryeong on the 3rd Anniversary Held at the National Library of Korea

The 3rd anniversary memorial service for the late Yi Eoryeong, who served as the first Minister of Culture, will be held on the 26th at 2 p.m. at the International Conference Hall of the National Library of Korea.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that Minister Yoo In-chon will attend the memorial service to pay tribute to the late Yi, and express gratitude to cultural and artistic figures attending the event, including Kang In-sook, director of the Youngin Literature Museum, who is a bereaved family member.

Teacher Lee Oryeong [Photo by Yonhap News]

Hosted by the Youngin Literature Museum, the 3rd anniversary memorial service will feature memorial speeches by Minister Yoo In-chon, Lee Bae-yong, Chairperson of the National Education Commission, and Lee Geun-bae, former President of the National Academy of Arts of the Republic of Korea. Actress Park Jeong-ja will recite Yi Eoryeong’s poem "Memento Mori," literary critic Kim Ju-yeon will present a critique titled "Yi Eoryeong and His Literature," and memorial performances will be held by baritone vocalist Choi Hyun-soo and traditional singer Jang Sa-ik.

Former Minister Yi Eoryeong began his term in 1990 with an inaugural speech titled "Determined to Become a Strong and Proud Pillar of the Ministry of Culture," laying the foundation for today’s cultural development by founding the National Institute of the Korean Language (predecessor of the National Institute of the Korean Language) and the Korea National University of Arts. Additionally, as the general planner of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, he directed the "Rolling Hoop Boy" scene at the opening ceremony, leaving a strong impression worldwide, and served as a member of the Olympic Commemorative Project Promotion Committee. In 2021, he was awarded the Gold Crown Cultural Medal in recognition of his contributions to the development of Korean literature. Notably, through numerous publications, he presented key terms and cultural directions embodying the spirit of the times during Korea’s periods of change, such as "Dijilog," "Creation," "Culture," and "Korean."