2025 International Best Artist Awards Concludes Successfully in Jung-gu, Incheon… Kicking Off the International Folk Film Festival

[Incheon, Republic of Korea]The 2025 10th International Best Artist Awards (ITAA 2025) ceremony, which celebrates "true artists" who have contributed to the development of human culture and arts by honoring the values of peace and respect for life in nature, successfully concluded on June 27in Jung-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City. This year's awards ceremony was particularly significant as it grandly opened the three-day 2025 International Folk Film Festival.

A Star-Studded Event Driven by Passion for the Arts

The event was co-hosted by Park Soo-bok, Chairman of the Ahn Gyeon Memorial Association, and Kim Jae-soo, International General Chairman of the Giving Angels Club. It was also jointly organized by the International Companion Animal Film Festival Organizing Committee (led by Chairman Kim Young-eon) and the Asia Culture and Arts Promotion Agency (led by Chairman Kim Tae-min). The broad support from various organizations and media outlets, including the Korea Hip Hop Culture Association, International Journalists Federation (GJF), International Journalists Club (GJC), Korea Journalists Association, National Journalists Association, Art Korea Broadcasting, Life Broadcasting, and Power Blog Alliance Newspaper, underscored the keen interest from the cultural and artistic community.

31 'True Artists' Honored for Contributions to Korean Culture

A total of 31 "true artists"who have demonstrated exceptional artistic spirit and humanism across various fields were honored at the ceremony. The distinguished list of recipients included:

∙World-renowned conductor Professor Goo Dong-sook

∙Professor Kim Sun-won, known for appearances on KBS's "Jinpum Myeongpum" (Priceless)

∙Lee Seok-hwa, former Cheongyang County Mayor and a master of Korean tiger folk painting

∙Professor Ji Hyun-ah, a master of Gayageum Byeongchang (Gayageum and singing) for Hwacheopgihaeng

∙Lee Ae-ri, a practitioner of Seungmu (monk dance), an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Chungcheongnam-do

∙Global rapper Outsider (Professor Shin Ok-cheol)

∙Korea's top art management planner Dr. Kim Ryun-hee

∙Calligrapher Ka Suk-jin

∙Abstract artist Kang Sung-soon

∙Travel photographer Kim Kyung-bin

∙Chairman Kim Jung-taek, known for Korean character abstraction

∙Korean traditional folk artist Ki Jung-ja

∙Entertainment MC Kim Min-jung, CEO

∙Literary critic Dr. Kim Hwa-soo

∙World-renowned sculptor Wacho Kim Tae-min

∙Representative Korean photographer Son Sung-soon

∙Master of Korean watercolor painting Son Suk-ja

∙Composer of beautiful hymns Professor Cha Eun-sun

∙Terrarium sculptor Lee Jae-seok

∙Contemporary artist Ahn Jung-yeon

∙Lim Jae-gu, Vice President of Pureun Munhaksa and a poet

∙World-renowned pop artist Jung Myung-hee

∙Master of Korean dakjong-i (paper craft) Choi Sun-ja

∙Western painter Lee Kyung-hee

∙Hallyu Culture Contribution CEO Jung Sung-sil

∙Korean traditional ceramic artist Cho Yong-joon

∙Sculptural stone artist Jung Taek-il

∙World-renowned soprano Dr. Yoon Jang-mi

∙Korean leather craft artist Yoo In-sook

∙Pureun Munhak essayist Dr. Ahn Cheong-ja

∙Popular music singer Geumbit Yerim

A Festival of Art, Giving, and Inspiring Performances

This event was particularly meaningful as it fostered a spirit of sharing and coexistence through art, with the Giving Angels Club facilitating a platform for artists and those in need to come together.

Professor Lee Kyoung-bocksmoothly hosted the awards ceremony, and the pre-show performances captivated attendees. The beautiful cello performance by world-renowned conductor Professor Goo Dong-sook, the passionate singing of soprano Dr. Yoon Jang-mi, and a concert-like stage by singer Outsiderfollowed, leaving a lasting impression on the many awardees and distinguished guests.

With the International Best Artist Awards ceremony having successfully kicked off, anticipation is high for the 2025 International Folk Film Festival, which will continue for three days. It is hoped that this event will serve as a significant opportunity to elevate the status of Korean culture and arts on the global stage and contribute to the advancement of human culture.