Lee Yunok, Master Singer from Sacheon, Wins Presidential Award

At the 25th Seoul Eunpyeong-gu Cheonggang Jeong Cheolho Gugak Festival

Lee Yunok, a renowned singer representing Sacheon in Gyeongnam, received the Grand Prize (Presidential Award) at the 25th Cheonggang Jeong Cheolho Gugak Festival in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Cheonggang Jeong Cheolho Gugak Festival is held to honor the achievements of the late master Jeong Cheolho, a first-generation Gugak composer and holder of the Pansori Gobup, and to preserve and pass down the intangible heritage of Gugak.

Group photo of Sachun Lee Yunoak, recipient of the Grand Prize (Presidential Award).

This year's event, hosted by Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul and organized by the Cheonggang Pansori Gobup Preservation Association, took place over two days from August 31 to September 1 at the Eunpyeong Culture and Arts Center Grand Theater.

The competition was divided into the Master/Myeongchang, General, Rookie, and Student (elementary, middle, and high school) categories, with contests in three areas: Gobup, Pansori, and instrumental music. Hundreds of Gugak artists from across the country participated, competing in preliminary and final rounds to showcase their skills.

With Lee Yunok (candidate holder of Gyeongnam Intangible Heritage Pansori Sugungga) winning the prestigious Grand Prize, it became an opportunity to widely promote the excellence of Sacheon's intangible heritage.

Lee Yunok stated, "I would like to dedicate the honor of this award to my late teacher, Seon Dongok. Moving forward, I aim to actively nurture the next generation based in Sacheon and revitalize Pansori in Gyeongnam."

Mayor Park Dongsik said, "I sincerely congratulate Lee Yunok on winning the Presidential Award," and urged, "I hope citizens will also take a greater interest in the intangible heritage within our region."

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