Minister Yoo In-chon Congratulates Sumi Jo on French Order of Arts and Letters: "Elevating Korea's Prestige"

On May 23, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon sent a congratulatory message to soprano Sumi Jo, who was awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters, expressing his congratulations and encouragement.

In his message, Minister Yoo stated, "This award has served as an opportunity to further elevate the status of Korea's cultural and artistic community. With the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France approaching next year, I hope you will continue to serve as a strong bridge between the two countries to strengthen mutual cultural cooperation." He added, "As a world-renowned vocalist, you have deeply moved not only the people of Korea but also many around the globe, and I offer my highest praise for your achievements. I also hope that your beautiful music will continue to bring happiness to even more people in the future."

Soprano Sumi Jo
[Photo by Sujin Lee, courtesy of Credia (c)]

Sumi Jo is scheduled to receive the medal on May 26 at the Op?ra Comique in Paris from Fleur Pellerin, the former French Minister of Culture of Korean descent.

The French Order of Arts and Letters, established by the French government in 1957, is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding creative activity in the fields of art and literature or have contributed to enhancing the international prestige of French culture. The order consists of three grades: Commandeur (1st class), Officier (2nd class), and Chevalier (3rd class). Previous Korean recipients include conductor Myung-Whun Chung (2011, Commandeur) and film director Bong Joon-ho (2016, Officier).

Sumi Jo graduated from the Santa Cecilia National Academy of Music and made her debut as a lead in 1986 at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste. Since then, she has enjoyed an international career as a soprano, receiving the Golden Goose Award in Italy in 1993 and the International Puccini Award in 2008. In 2019, she was awarded the Ordine della Stella d’Italia by the Italian government, and in 2023, she received the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit for her achievements as a pioneer of K-classic, raising Korea’s profile on the world opera stage and instilling national pride among Koreans.