Ballet Dancer Kim Hak-ja Passes Away

Ballet dancer Kim Hak-ja.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] The National Academy of Arts of the Republic of Korea announced on the 1st that Kim Hak-ja, a member of the theater, film, and dance division, passed away on the 31st of last month at the age of 82.

Born in 1939, Kim graduated from Ewha Womans University with a degree in history in 1961. From 1966 to 1969, she majored in dance at Kyung Hee University Graduate School.

In 1962, she participated in the first performance of the National Dance Company at its founding, and in 1967, she presented the Korea-China-Japan joint production of "Swan Lake." She appeared in the 12th performance of the National Ballet Company in 1970 and the 15th regular performance of the National Opera Company, "Aida," in 1973. In 1989, she also performed in and served as artistic director for Im Seong-nam's 45th anniversary ballet performance.

The late Kim was also active in choreography. She was responsible for choreography in numerous works, including the 16th performance of the National Ballet Company in 1975 and the 34th regular performance of the National Changgeuk Company (Sugungga) in 1981. Major solo presentations include the 1st Kim Hak-ja Creative Ballet Performance "Bach Variations" in 1969 and the 5th Kim Hak-ja Creative Ballet Performance "Giselle Act 2, The Return" in 1996.

She received several awards, including the Seoul Olympic Cultural Medal in 1988, the Grand Prize of the Korean Ballet Arts Award in 1998, the Bogwan Cultural Medal in 2004, and the Korean Ballet Association's "Special Merit Award" in 2016. In 2009, she was appointed as a member of the National Academy of Arts.

The funeral is being held at Room 31 of the funeral hall at Seoul Gangnam St. Mary's Hospital. The funeral procession will take place at 7:30 a.m. on the 3rd.

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