Sumi Jo, First Korean Inducted into the 'Asia Hall of Fame'

Vocalist Jo Sumi.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] Soprano Jo Sumi has been inducted into the Asia Hall of Fame as the first Korean.

According to her agency SMI Entertainment on the 17th, soprano Jo Sumi was selected as the first Korean to be inducted into the Asia Hall of Fame at the '17th 2021 Asia Hall of Fame' Annual Induction Ceremony held via YouTube Live.

The Asia Hall of Fame was founded in 2004 in Seattle by the Robert Chin Foundation. It works to improve violence and prejudice against Asians occurring in various regions worldwide, including the United States, and to enhance bonds between Asian culture and other cultures, fostering mutual respect and admiration. It also continues activities to promote the excellence of Asian artists and cultural diversity to people around the world.

Jo Sumi said, "I am happy to be recognized not only for my personal honor but also as a musician representing Asia for the efforts I have made over the past 35 years," adding, "As a UNESCO Peace Artist and a leader representing Asia, I will work hard for the next 35 years."

Previous inductees into the Asia Hall of Fame include actor Lee So-ryong, skater Kristi Yamaguchi, and journalist Connie Chung. This year, 10 people from Korea, the United States, India, Jamaica, and Hong Kong were selected. Among these 10, three are related to the arts: Jo Sumi, Japanese-American pop music producer Steve Aoki, and Chinese-Jamaican guitarist Phil Chen.

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