Miryang City Successfully Concludes 'Miryang Arirang International Competition in Kyoto'

Miryang City in Gyeongsangnam-do announced on the 9th that it had successfully concluded the 'Miryang Arirang International Competition (MY K-Arirang Competition in Kyoto)' held at the Kyoto International Community House in Japan on the 8th.

The event was organized to strengthen the foundation for international exchange by hosting a global K-Arirang competition overseas, and to explore the possibilities for modern expansion of intangible heritage by presenting a stage that connected Korean traditional music with local Japanese culture.

Miryang City Successfully Hosts the ‘Miryang Arirang International Competition in Kyoto’. Provided by Miryang City

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For the celebratory performance, the Kyoto Korea Art Center's Japanese traditional performance team and the Miryang intangible heritage group 'Miryang Beopheung Sangwon Nori' took the stage together, receiving an enthusiastic response from the local audience.

The competition was divided into two main categories: the 'Traditional Division', which included dance, samulnori, and folk songs, and the 'Creative Division', which featured free-style performances of songs, instruments, or dances based on Miryang Arirang.

With a high level of interest resulting in applications from a total of 70 teams, 40 teams who passed the preliminary round advanced to the finals, heightening the excitement of the international competition with performances based on Miryang Arirang.

The grand prize in the Traditional Division was awarded to Yoo Sunja (a Korean resident in Japan) for her Bupo Dance performance, while the top prize in the Traditional Division went to the Gyeongju Children's Gayageum Byeongchang Team from Shinsa Cheolga. In the Creative Division, Ryosuke Ohashi of Miryang Arirang Wadaiko received the top prize.

In addition, outstanding team awards, excellence awards, encouragement awards, and special prizes were presented across various categories.

An Byunggu, Mayor of Miryang, stated, "Through this competition, we have confirmed the potential of Miryang Arirang as a global cultural content and its possibilities for international cultural exchange. We will continue to work towards establishing Miryang Arirang as a global brand and expanding international exchange."

Meanwhile, following the event in Kyoto, Miryang City plans to expand its international exchange by hosting the 'Miryang Arirang International Competition' in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in June. The city will also accelerate the global spread of K-Arirang content through partnerships with local organizations.

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