The 20th Gurye National Gayageum Competition Successfully Concluded

Successfully Concluded with Record-Breaking Attendance and 20th Anniversary Celebration Performance

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok] The 20th Gurye National Gayageum Competition, hosted by Gurye County, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim Soon-ho) and organized by the Gayageum Byeongchang Preservation Society (Chairperson Kang Jeongsuk), was successfully held over two days from the 18th to the 19th at the Seomjin Art Hall.

The preliminary round was conducted through non-face-to-face video judging, while the final round was held in person.

To ensure fairness in judging, all judging processes were broadcast live on YouTube.

A record number of 328 participants from 284 teams competed across 14 categories including Gayageum Sanjo, Byeongchang, and creative performances in the nationwide elementary, middle, and high school divisions, rookie division, university division, and general division. The judging panel consisted of 12 judges, led by Chairperson Kim Haesook (Honorary Professor at the Korea National University of Arts Traditional Arts School).

The prestigious Presidential Award (Grand Prize in the General Division) was awarded to Lee Seung-ah (age 40, Seongnam).

The Presidential Award winner received a prize of 10 million KRW and a Sanjo Gayageum from the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Go Heung-gon Korean Traditional Instrument Research Institute as a special award.

Gurye County Governor Kim Soon-ho said, “This year marks the meaningful 20th anniversary of the Gurye National Gayageum Competition. We will strive to further enhance our history and tradition and its reputation through commemorative celebratory performances featuring past Presidential Award winners and local artists.”

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok hss79@asiae.co.kr

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