Until July 11... One Main Award and One Special Award Each
Honoring Contributions to Gugak and Discovering New Talent... Winners to be Selected in August
On June 19, Gwangju City announced that it is publicly recruiting candidates for the "2025 Im Bangul Gugak Award," the traditional Korean music category of the Gwangju Arts and Culture Awards, until July 11.
The Im Bangul Gugak Award is presented annually to honor the artistic spirit of master singer Im Bangul, who was born in Gwangju, and to recognize artists who have contributed to the development of traditional Korean music.
The recruitment is open nationwide, with one recipient selected for the main award and one for the special award. The main award is given to an individual with significant achievements in the development of Gugak, such as pansori. The special award is presented to a promising individual under the age of 45 in the field of Gugak.
Candidates may be recommended by: ▲ heads of various institutions or social organizations ▲ presidents or deans of junior colleges or higher ▲ members of the Im Bangul Gugak Award Steering Committee ▲ or by a joint recommendation from at least 20 citizens aged 18 or older as of the announcement date.
The application period is from June 30 to July 11. Recommendation documents can be submitted in person at City Hall, by email, or by registered mail. Required documents include a statement of achievements, a resume, and supporting evidence of accomplishments. Detailed information can be found in the announcements section of the Gwangju City website.
The city plans to disclose the achievements of the submitted candidates in advance on the Gwangju City website, conduct a verification process, and then finalize the recipients through a review by the Im Bangul Gugak Award Selection Committee in August.
The award ceremony will take place at the eve event of the 33rd Im Bangul Gugak Festival National Competition, which will be held in September this year. Awardees will receive support for creative activities such as performance and album production in 2026, as well as invitations to city-hosted events.
Shin Shinha, Director of Cultural Policy, stated, "We aim to discover artists who have contributed to the creative development of Gugak by carrying on the artistic spirit of master singer Im Bangul," and added, "We hope for the active interest and recommendations from the Gugak community and citizens."
Meanwhile, the Gwangju Arts and Culture Awards have been presented since 1992, beginning with the Oh Jiho Art Award, and have recognized achievements in three categories: Gugak, art, and literature, with both main and special awards. To date, 121 main awards and 47 special awards have been given.
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