Gurye National Gayageum Competition Successfully Concluded

Published 09 May.2023 20:23(KST)

21st Anniversary Celebration Performance, Largest Participation in History Successfully Concluded

The 21st Gurye National Gayageum Competition, held at Seomjin Art Hall from the 6th to the 7th, concluded successfully.

Hosted by Gurye County, Jeollanam-do (County Governor Kim Soon-ho) and organized by the Gayageum Byeongchang Preservation Society (Chairman Kang Jeong-sook), this competition saw the largest number of participants ever, engaging in intense contests.

[Photo by Gurye-gun]

A total of 289 participants from 278 teams competed across 14 categories including Gayageum Sanjo, Byeongchang, and creative performances in the nationwide elementary, middle, and high school divisions, as well as the rookie, university, and general divisions.

The judging panel consisted of 12 judges, led by Chairperson Lee Jae-sook (Professor Emeritus, Department of Korean Traditional Music, Seoul National University).

The prestigious President's Award (Grand Prize in the General Division) was awarded to Kim Ji-ae (36 years old, Goyang City). She received a prize of 10 million KRW and a Sanjo Gayageum from the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Hoheung-gon Korean Instrument Research Institute as a special prize.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award for the university division went to Choi Jeong-eum (male, Seoul National University), the high school division grand prize to Noh Hyang (female, National Gugak High School), the middle school division grand prize to Kim Eun-chae (female, National Traditional Arts Middle School), the elementary division grand prize to Lee Ji-woo (female, Gureumsan Elementary School), and the rookie division grand prize to Choo Jeong-min (female, Seoul). Local participant Pyo Soon-ok (female, Gurye) received the rookie division silver prize.

Kang Jeong-sook, Chairman of the Gayageum Byeongchang Preservation Society, expressed her gratitude, saying, “We are pleased that the 21st Gurye National Gayageum Competition concluded successfully, and we thank all participants who came from all over the country.”

County Governor Kim Soon-ho stated, “I hope the Gurye National Gayageum Competition, which boasts a long history and tradition, will further enhance its reputation and bear abundant fruit.”