Namja-ui Jagyeok Cheongchun Hapchangdan Wins Presidential Award at National Choir Competition

First Presidential Award for Senior Choir
Cheongchun Choir Conductor Kim Sang-kyung, Best Conductor Award

The Men's Qualification Youth Choir (Director Yoon Hak-su) announced on the 5th that they received the Presidential Award at the 25th National Presidential Choir Competition.

Lee Seok-bong, Vice Mayor of Daejeon City (center), presenting the award with members of the Namja-ui Jakyuk Youth Choir.
[Photo by Namja-ui Jakyuk Youth Choir]

The competition, held on the 4th at Hanbat National University in Daejeon, was organized for purely amateur adult choirs in Korea. It was conducted in three categories: female, male-female mixed, and silver. The grand prize was judged from candidates across all categories. Since the competition began 25 years ago, this is the first time a senior choir has won the grand prize, the Presidential Award.

Professor Park Shin-hwa of Ewha Womans University, who served as the head judge, said, "The Youth Choir demonstrated an astonishing level beyond that of professional choirs," and added, "I hope that senior choirs like the Youth Choir will become a driving force in leading the choral scene in our country."

On the same day, the Youth Choir's conductor Kim Sang-kyung received the Best Conductor Award and was applauded with joy.

The Youth Choir was formed in 2011 through the KBS2 entertainment program 'Namja-ui Jagyeok' (Men's Qualification). After the program aired, the choir sparked a nationwide choral syndrome. After the show ended, it was reestablished as a civilian choir and has served as an ambassador spreading Korea's senior culture. They have performed at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in 2015, Graz, Austria in 2017, Uzbekistan in 2018, Carnegie Hall in the United States in 2019, and Yokohama, Japan earlier this year. Domestically, they have consistently appeared on various stages such as the Liberation Day ceremony and the Winter Olympics celebration stage, continuing their activities.

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