Posthumous Honor for Literary Critic Kim Jong-cheol and Calligrapher Lee Don-heung with Eungwan Cultural Medal

Ministry of Culture Announces 18 Recipients of Cultural Medals
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Late Literary Critic Kim Jong-cheol
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The late literary critic Kim Jong-cheol and the late calligrapher Lee Don-heung will be awarded the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit. On the 18th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the selection of 31 recipients, including eighteen Order of Cultural Merit awardees, five recipients of the Republic of Korea Culture and Arts Awards (Presidential Citation), and eight recipients of the Young Artist of the Day Award (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Citation). The award ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on the 19th at the National Museum of Korea’s Grand Auditorium.

The six recipients of the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit are the late Kim Jong-cheol (literature), the late Lee Don-heung (art), the late Han Ik-hwan (craft and design), Seung Hyo-sang (architecture), the late Baek Dae-ung (music), and the late Kim Sang-yeol (theater and dance). The late Kim Jong-cheol was the former publisher and editor of Green Review. From 1991, he published 172 issues, reflecting deeply on modern civilization and seeking new alternatives. His works include the essay collections Poetry and Historical Imagination and Poetic Human and Ecological Human, and the literary theory collection Imagination of the Earth.

the late Lee Don-heung, former chairman of the International Calligraphers Association

The late Lee Don-heung was the former chairman of the International Calligraphers Association. Since 1975, he organized 43 calligraphy exhibitions and contributed to nurturing future generations and expanding the calligraphy art scene by founding the International Calligraphers Association and hosting international academic events. The late Han Ik-hwan was the former chairman of the craft division of the Korean Ceramic Society. For about 40 years since 1967, he researched the reproduction of traditional ceramic colors that had been lost and successfully recreated the white porcelain color used by the Joseon royal court. His handcrafted works continue to introduce Korean ceramic art to the world. They have been exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum in the U.S., the Museum of Asian Art in Boston, the Cologne Museum in Germany, and the Vienna Museum in Austria.

Seung Hyo-sang is a distinguished professor at Dong-A University. Since 1989, he has been the head of Irojae Architects and has won thirteen trophies at various domestic and international competitions. He has also served as chairman of the National Architecture Policy Committee under the President, general director of the Gwangju Biennale, and the inaugural chief architect of Seoul, contributing to the development of architectural culture. His publications include Aesthetics of the Poor, Architecture, Signs of Thought, and Meditation. The late Baek Dae-ung was an emeritus professor at the Korea National University of Arts’ Traditional Arts Department. He laid the foundation for traditional music research by transcribing orally transmitted traditional music into staff notation and proposing systematic methodologies. He also expanded the scope of Korean music by composing with contemporary sensibilities using traditional music techniques.

Seunghyo Sang, Dong-A University Distinguished Professor

The late Kim Sang-yeol was the former director of the theater troupe Shinshi. As a playwright and director, he was active for 33 years, pioneering various fields such as original plays, musicals, Madangnori (traditional Korean outdoor plays), and musical dramas. He successfully led cultural performances by writing scripts and directing at various international events, including the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the 1993 Daejeon World Expo, and the 1991 Goseong World Jamboree.

The Bronze Crown Order of Cultural Merit was awarded to five individuals: the late Choi Gyu-jin, former chairman of the Namgaram Cultural Foundation, who donated the wheel-thrown pottery (Treasure No. 637) to the National Jinju Museum; playwright Lee Kang-baek, who debuted in 1971 and published plays such as Five, Spring Day, and Until Worn Out; Yoo Hoo-yeol, advisor to the Korean Fine Arts Association, who contributed to the development of art in Jeonbuk by opening an art museum and establishing the Youth Art Award; Hwang Young-geum, member of the National Academy of Arts, who spread Korean vocal music worldwide through 230 invited performances; and Kim Moon-sook, member of the National Academy of Arts, holder of Masterpiece Dance No. 3 Gasahojeop and Masterpiece Dance No. 6 Daegwol.

The late Kim Sang-yeol, former representative of the theater company Shinshi

The recipients of the Jade Crown Order of Cultural Merit are Lee Soo-young, president of the Gyeongnam Cultural Center Federation; painter Park Dae-sung; Lee Gil-hyung, president of the Korea Design Organizations Federation; and Jo Sung-rae, director of Hansori Gugakwon. The Flower Crown Order of Cultural Merit was awarded to three individuals: Jang Sang-ho, director of the Korea Cultural Center Federation; Jung Chang-kwan, CEO of Jeongbi & A; and Heo Yong-su, CEO of GS Energy.

Park Chan-soo, teacher at Chiak Elementary School (general culture); Kim Hyung-soo, director of the Shindongyeop Literature Museum (literature); Kim Geun-tae, president of the Southwestern Culture and Arts Association (art); Lee Ji-young, professor of Korean traditional music at Seoul National University (music); Nam Myung-ryeol, actor (theater and dance) will receive the Republic of Korea Culture and Arts Awards. Along with the Presidential Citation, they will receive a prize of 10 million won.

The recipients of the Young Artist of the Day Award are novelist Kim Geum-hee (literature); Nam Hwa-yeon, professor of Fine Arts at Korea National University of Arts (art); Kang Seok-geun, CEO of Kang Seok-geun Lacquer Woodcraft (craft and design); Kim Chan-jung, chief architect of The System Lab Architects (architecture); Seo Jin, conductor of Gwacheon City Symphony Orchestra (music); Kang Hyo-joo, associate principal of the National Gugak Center Folk Orchestra (traditional arts); Byun Yoo-jung, member of the Korean Theater Association (theater); and Kim Bo-ram, artistic director of Ambiguous Dance Company (dance). They will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Citation and a prize of 5 million won.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.