Soprano Sumi Jo awarded Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit

World-renowned Korean Soprano Sumi Jo was named the recipient of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Geumgwan (Gold Crown) Order of Cultural Merit, the highest honor among the cultural merit awards, on Friday.

Soprano Sumi Jo, right, receives the Geumgwan (Gold Crown) Order of Merit, from Culture Minister Yu In-chon on Friday at the Modu Art Center in Seodaemun District, western Seoul. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

World-renowned Korean Soprano Sumi Jo was named the recipient of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Geumgwan (Gold Crown) Order of Cultural Merit, the highest honor among the cultural merit awards, on Friday, recognizing her “outstanding contributions in elevating Korea’s global cultural standing,” the ministry said.

The annual awards ceremony to recognize those who have contributed in developing Korea’s culture and arts was held on Friday at the Culture Ministry’s new Modu Art Theater in Seodaemun District, western Seoul. A total of 32 individuals received awards. The awards have been given out by the Culture Ministry every year since 1969.

Three Eungwan (Silver Crown) Order of Cultural Merits were awarded to Hwang Eul-sun, a craftsman who specializes in creating royal silk flowers, which is a technique that is listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, alongside late Korean traditional music composer Lee Hae-sik and traditional Korean dancer Jeong Seung-hee.

The Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit, the third-highest of five levels, went to five individuals, including Pyo Mi-seon, CEO of Pyo Gallery who established the Korea International Art Fair (KIAF), Korean abstract painter Oh Su-hwan, craftsman Kang Seok-young, Park Kwang-woong, former chairman of the Korean Theater Association, and Choi Young-muk, CEO of Bitsori Friends, a dance theater company for disabled dancers.

Pianist Yunchan Lim, who became the youngest pianist and the first Korean to ever win the gold medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022, was one of the recipients of the awards on Friday. He was among seven artists who were honored with the Young Artists Award.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]