Han Young-suk (; February 2, 1920 – October 8, 1990), was an

Ingan-munhwage A Living National Treasure (인간 문화재; ingan munhwajae), literally meaning ''human cultural asset'', is a South Korean popular term for those individuals certified as Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Properties (중요 무형 문 ...

for the

Seungmu ''Seungmu'' is a Korean dance performed by Buddhist monks. It is one of the most famous Korean traditional dances and designated as South Korea's important intangible cultural asset number 27 in 1969. It has been developed into a solo dance by p ...

and Hakmu, which is an

Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea The Intangible Cultural Heritage (, ''Muhyeong Munhwajae'') are aspects of intangible culture that the government of South Korea has officially designated for preservation in accordance with the 1962 Cultural Property Protection Law. They are p ...

. She was designated on July 4, 1969. She was a master of

Korean dance Dance in Korea began with shamanistic early rituals five thousand years ago and now ranges from folk dance to newly created and adopted contemporary dance. Overview Korean traditional dance originated in ancient shamanistic rituals thousands ...

especially

, Hakmu,

Taepyeongmu Taepyeongmu (태평무; literally "great peace dance") is a Korean dance with the function of wishing a great peace for the country. Its exact origin is unknown, but certain style of the present was composed by Hahn Seongjun (hangul: 한성준; h ...

and Salpuri. She used Byeoksa () as a pseudonym.

Biography

Han Young-suk was born on February 2, 1920, in

Cheonan Cheonan (; 천안시, ''Cheonan-si''), also spelled Ch'ŏnan, is a city in South Chungcheong, South Korea. Cheonan has a population of 666,417 (2018), making it the most-populous city or county in South Chungcheong, and the third most-populous ci ...

Chungcheongnam-do South Chungcheong Province ( ko, 충청남도, ''Chungcheongnam-do''), also known as Chungnam, is a province of South Korea. South Chungcheong has a population of 2,059,871 (2014) and has a geographic area of 8,204 km2 (3,168 sq mi) located in ...

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

. She is granddaughter of Han Seong-jun who was a master of

and her father was Han Hui-jong. She dropped out from Hongsang Galmi school when she was 9 and then moved to Seoul with her grandfather Han Seong-jun to learn

when she was 13. She learned

Haegeum The ''haegeum'' () is a traditional Korean string instrument, resembling a vertical fiddle with two strings; derived from '' xiqin'', traditional Instrument of Xi people, which was introduced in Goryeo Dynasty through Northern Song. It has ...

and

Yanggeum The yanggeum is a traditional Korean string instrument. It is a hammered dulcimer. Unlike other traditional Korean instruments (most of which have silk strings), the ''yanggeum'' has metal strings. It is played by striking the strings with a b ...

at the

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

Music and Dance Institute and also learned all the

, Hakmu,

, Salpuri,

Barachum Barachum is a representative of the Korean dance, Korean Buddhist ritual dance, (''jakbeop''), and is performed by Buddhist monks with ''bara'' (hangul:바라). The term ''bara'' describes a cymbal-like Korean instrument made with brass. The dance ...

. She made her first performance at her grandfather's dance conference at bumingwan in Seoul. She took over the Han Seong-jun dance institute and succeeded her grandfather's

style after he died. She had her performance tour in Japan, Manchuria,

Hwanghae Province Hwanghae Province (''Hwanghae-do'' ) was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon era. Hwanghae was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was Haeju. The regional name for the province was Haeseo. History In 139 ...

Pyongan Province Pyeong-an Province (, ) was one of Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Pyeong'an was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was Pyeongyang (now Pyongyang, North Korea). History Pyeong'an Province was formed in ...

, and

Hamgyong Province Hamgyong Province () was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Hamgyŏng was located in the northeast of Korea. The provincial capital was Hamhŭng. Names The province was first established as Yonggil ( ko, 영길, , ' ...

. She married accordion player Hwang Byeong-ryeol in 1944. She died on October 8, 1990.

Career

She founded Han Young-suk Classical Dance Institute in 1946 to teach students. She was a

instructor at Gukak Korea Arts School (now Gukak Seoul Arts High School), Sorabol College of Arts, Ewha Womans University, Seoul Arts High School, Seoul Arts College, Sudo Teachers College, and the Seoul City Dance Company. She participated as a national mission in Japan, Osaka Expo. In 1972,she was a folk troupes in the

Sapporo ( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous city ...

Winter

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...

Games. She also did folk troupes in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...

Summer

Games and in 1975, she got a tour of Japan and Okinawa for 30th anniversary of independence of Korea. She also performed at Okinawa ocean Expo in a National Day concert. In 1988, she did her specialty, Salpuri, at the

Seoul Olympic Games The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...

closing ceremony event.

Awards

Han received the Seoul Culture Prize in 1967, the 3rd Seoul Newspaper Culture Prize and the National President's Award in 1970, and the 3rd Culture Art Award in 1971. Also she got Dongbaekjang Merit in 1973, National Academy of Arts of the Republic of Korea prize in 1980. In 1981, she was a professor in the dance department in

Sejong University Sejong University (SJU; ) is a private university located in Seoul, South Korea known for its standing in hospitality and tourism management, dancing, animation and rhythmic gymnastics. Founded as the Kyung Sung Humanities Institute, it was rename ...

teaching

References

Korean Cultural Heritage Association

Encyclopedia Daum

Korea Culture Information Service
{{DEFAULTSORT:Han, Young-suk 1920 births 1990 deaths South Korean female dancers Academic staff of Sejong University