The National Academy of Arts of the Republic of Korea announced that it will hold the "70th National Academy of Arts Awards and the 4th National Academy of Arts Young Artist Awards" ceremony at 2 p.m. on September 5 in the main conference room of the Academy.
Three recipients will be honored with the National Academy of Arts Award, and six recipients will receive the Young Artist Award.
The National Academy of Arts, established in 1954, is an institution dedicated to recognizing and supporting artists who have made significant contributions to artistic creation, and to advancing the arts through various support programs. Since 1955, the National Academy of Arts Award has been presented annually to artists who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the arts in Korea. The award covers four categories: literature, fine arts, music, and theater/film/dance. To date, a total of 233 individuals have received this honor. Winners are presented with a certificate, a medal, and a prize of 50 million won.
This year, the National Academy of Arts Award will be presented to Woo Chanje in the literature category, Lee Bongyeol in the fine arts category (Western painting), and Chae Sangmuk in the dance category.
Woo Chanje, a critic, has been active for nearly 40 years since his literary debut in 1987, seeking critical wisdom that enables literature to engage with the demands of the times and to converse with the humanities, thereby envisioning new horizons of creativity. Lee Bongyeol, a Western painter, began his career in the 1970s with spatial constructions using grids and divided planes, and throughout the 1980s and 1990s, gradually deconstructed the pictorial space on his canvases. Chae Sangmuk, a dancer, began his training in 1953 under the tutelage of cultural heritage holders Choi Seon, Kang Seonyeong, and Lee Maebang. As a recognized holder of the Lee Maebang style Seungmu dance since 2019, he has contributed greatly to the study, transmission, and development of Korean dance.
From the left, Woo Chanje, Lee Bongyeol, Chae Sangmuk [Photo provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
The Young Artist Award will be presented to Choi Jinyoung (novelist) in the literature category; Yoon Irang (craft artist) and Park Kwantaek (Western painter) in the fine arts category; Baek Seokgwang (theater actor) and Min Saerom (theater director) in the theater category; and Park Jonghwan (film actor) in the film category.
Novelist Choi Jinyoung began her writing career after winning the Silcheon Literary Newcomer Award in 2006. With the publication of novels and short story collections every two to three years, she has made significant contributions to expanding the scope of Korean literature. Craft artist Yoon Irang has actively participated in numerous domestic and international competitions and lectures, and has grown into an internationally recognized artist through five solo exhibitions and many group shows. Western painter Park Kwantaek has engaged in more than 30 solo and group exhibitions and participated in various residency programs at home and abroad, actively communicating his critical inquiry process and its limitations with the public. Theater actor Baek Seokgwang began his professional career as a dancer after winning the grand prize at the Dong-A Dance Competition in 2004. He has since expanded his artistic activities by producing, directing, and acting in short films, collaborating with artists from various genres, broadening his scope as a theater actor, and working to break down boundaries between art forms. Theater director Min Saerom has worked extensively across national arts institutions, regional cultural organizations, and private production companies. Her productions, noted for their psychological realism, social awareness, and powerful audiovisual language, have garnered attention from critics and audiences alike. Film actor Park Jonghwan has contributed to the diversity of Korean cinema by appearing in over 80 short and feature films since 2009 through his consistent and prolific work.
The Young Artist Award, established in 2022, is presented to artists aged 40 to 45 or younger who are expected to lead the future of Korean art through outstanding creative activities. The award covers four categories: literature, fine arts, music, and theater/film/dance. To date, 23 individuals have received this honor. Winners are presented with a certificate, a medal, and a prize of 25 million won.
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