Lee Hyun-ja, Holder of Taepyeongmu, Passes Away Due to Illness at Age 84

Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Lee Hyun-ja, holder of the National Intangible Cultural Property No. 92 Taepyeongmu, passed away on the morning of the 19th due to an illness. She was 84 years old.

Born in Seoul in 1936, she learned Taepyeongmu from the late holder Kang Sun-young in 1953. She became a Taepyeongmu transmission education assistant in 1990 and was recognized as a holder in 2019.

She served as a director of the Korean Dance Association and an advisor to the Korean Traditional Dance Association, striving for the development of traditional dance. She also founded the Lee Hyun-ja Traditional Dance Research Society to train successors, dedicating her life to the preservation and transmission of Taepyeongmu. Taepyeongmu (太平舞) is a dance that prays for the peace and prosperity of the nation. It is based on dances and music originating from shamanistic traditions in the Gyeonggi region and has been artistically restructured and passed down by artists such as the late Han Seong-jun. The dance is noted for its splendid royal court costumes, dazzling footwork, and restrained techniques.

Survived by her sons Jeon Jae-young and Choi Won-jun, and daughters Choi Mi-kyung and Bo-kyung.

The funeral is being held at Hanyang University Hospital Funeral Hall, Special Room 7, with the funeral procession scheduled for 7:40 AM on the 21st. ☎ 02-2290-9442

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