Kim Baek-bong
Kim Baek-bong | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kim Choong-sil February 12, 1927 |
| Died | May 11, 2023 (aged 96) |
| Other names | Root of Modern Korean Dance Renaissance of Korean traditional Dance |
| Education | Choi Seung-hee Dance Institute |
| Occupations | Choregraphyer, Dancer |
| Years active | 1943–2023 |
| Spouse |
Ahn Je-seung
(m. 1944; died 1998) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Choi Seung-hee (sister-in-law) |
Kim Baek-bong (Korean: 김백봉; February 12, 1927 – April 11, 2023), born Kim Choong-sil (김충실), was a South Korean choreographer and dancer widely considered a pioneer of neoclassical Korean dance.[1] She is famously referred to as the "Root of Modern Korean Dance" and the leader of the "renaissance of Korean traditional dance" due to her role in modernizing ancient forms into the neoclassical style.[1] She is most renowned for creating the Buchaechum (Fan Dance) and the Hwagwanmu (Floral Coronet Dance), which have become globally recognized symbols of Korean traditional culture.[2][1]
Early life and education
Kim was born in 1927 in Pyongyang, South Pyongan Province.[1] She began her formal training in 1943 at the Choi Seung-hee Dance Institute in Tokyo, where she became the premier disciple of Choi Seung-hee, the legendary pioneer of modern Korean dance.[3][1] During this period, she toured Japan, China, and Southeast Asia as a member of the Choi Seung-hee Dance Troupe.[1]
These tours were instrumental in shaping Kim's "neoclassical" style, as she witnessed Choi's efforts to blend Western modern dance techniques with traditional Asian aesthetics.[1]
Career
Life in Pyongyang
In the North, Kim served as the principal dancer and deputy director of the Choi Seung-hee Dance Troupe.[1] She recalled her surprise at the "modern" sight of multiple telephones in government buildings, which contrasted sharply with what she had seen in the South at the time.[4]
Defect to South Korea
Following the division of Korea, Kim worked in Pyongyang before defecting to the South during the Korean War, establishing the Kim Baek-bong Dance Research Institute in Seoul in 1953.[1] In 1954, she presented her most famous work, the Buchaechum (Fan Dance), which was later adapted into a group performance that gained international acclaim at events such as the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Expo '70, and the 1972 Munich Olympics.[5][6]
Academic and Institutional Roles
She served as a professor in Kyung Hee University at the Department of Dance from 1965 to 1992.[1] Her daughter, Ahn Byung-ju, now leads the same department.[7][1] She served as the 5th director of the Seoul City Dance Company.[1] She was a member of the National Academy of Arts.[1]
She founded the Kim Baek-bong Dance Research Institute in 1953 and later the Korean Art Dance Institute in 1954.[1] She established the Kim Baek-bong Dance Preservation Society in 1995.[8] The Kim Baek-bong Dance Preservation Society, established in 1995, continues to promote her artistic legacy.[1]
Works
Kim choreographed over 600 pieces, notably the Buchaechum, Hwagwanmu (Floral Coronet Dance), Janggo Dance, and Simcheong.[1]
Personal life and death
In 1944, Kim married Ahn Je-seung (1928–1998), the brother-in-law of her mentor, Choi Seung-hee.[1] She had three children, including An Byeong-ju, who heads the Dance Department at Kyung Hee University.[1]
Kim Baek-bong passed away on the afternoon of April 11, 2023, at the age of 97.[1] Her funeral was held at the Shinchon Severance Hospital funeral hall in Seoul, with the funeral procession taking place on April 14, 2023.[1] She is survived by her children: son An Byeong-cheol, and daughters An Byeong-ju and An Na-kyung.[1]
Awards
- In 1953, she got Seoul City Cultural Award for her early recognition of her artistic talent.[1]
- in 1981, she was honored with Bogwan Cultural Medal for her significant cultural contributions.[1]
- In 1988 she received Presidential Award for her role in the 1988 Seoul Olympics ceremonies.[1]
- In 1999, she was selected for this specific honorary distinction to recognize her profound impact on modern Korean history.[1]
- In 2005, She got Eun-gwan Cultural Medals.[1]
- In 2014, she was considered an Intangible Cultural Property and her Buchaechum was designated as the No. 3 asset of South Pyongan Province.[1]
- In 2016, she was honored with Best Master Award and she was honored as a "Best Master Honoring Korea".[1]
- In 2017 at March 1 Cultural Award, she received for her lifelong dedication to the arts.[1]
Legacy
Kim was often described as the "best pupil" who most faithfully inherited Choi's artistic philosophy.[1] Throughout her career in South Korea, Kim kept Choi's memory alive by recreating her mentor's famous works, such as the Bodhisattva Dance.[7]
Buchaechum was registered as an Intangible Cultural Asset of South Pyongan Province in 2014.[1]
Kim Baek-bong's legacy continues through the Kim Baek-bong Dance Preservation Society.[1] In 2018, the society gained international attention when they presented a commemorative plaque to Jimin of BTS for his performance that modernized and globally promoted the fan dance.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af "Renowned Korean Dance Pioneer Kim Baekbong Passes Away". The Asia Business Daily. April 12, 2023.
- ^ "Hungarian envoy traces history of Korean dancer: Ambassador kicks off celebration of 30 years of diplomatic relations". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 11, 2018.
- ^ "Seventy Years of Kim Baek-bong Dance Performed by Her Students". Yonhap News Agency. February 20, 2025.
- ^ "A mosaic tracingthe unknownyears of Choi Seung-hee". Korea JoongAng Daily. August 20, 2020.
- ^ "Traditional Dances". KBS World. October 24, 2018.
- ^ "Chinese search engine calls Korean fan dance 'Chinese'". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 19, 2023.
- ^ a b "Traditional dance masters on stage". The Korea Times. June 1, 2012.
- ^ "Highlighting the Artistic World of Korean Dancer Kim Baekbong: 'Dance (Mu), Speak'". The Asia Business Daily. May 17, 2024.
- ^ "Reimagining Tradition: A New Perspective on Buchaechum". Korea Honorary Reporters. January 29, 2026.