Boondang Central Presbyterian Church was founded on October 5, 1991, as the first church in Bundang New Town by Rev. Choi Jeong-chun. With the vision of being a church that is conscious of history and society, a church that nurtures people to change the world, and a church that is responsible for the spiritual health of its members, the church has been striving to cultivate Christian social opinion leaders for the past 33 years since its establishment. The church has produced over 100 doctorates, trained overseas students, supported retirement pensions for 500 missionary families, provided scholarships to students currently enrolled at Chongshin University and overseas students, supported the training of medical leaders in underdeveloped countries at Yonsei Medical Center, provided scholarships for the training of general leaders in Third World countries, and published the <Korean Theological Series>, a compilation of research on Korean Reformed theology, thereby practicing love for humanity. Last August, the church established the Boondang Central Cultural Foundation for Practicing Humanity as a non-profit public interest corporation to support culturally vulnerable groups and to foster cultural and artistic talent. Reverend Choi said ※The arts are not a choice, but a necessity in our lives. The way to prepare for an era of greater cultural influence is to nurture people. By adhering to the principle of ＆following through on our promises,＊ the Foundation will continue to provide courage, opportunity, hope, and support for artists through our cultural and arts award.

 

The 2nd Boondang Central Cultural Foundation for Practicing Humanity Award

9 groups and 52 individuals have been honored with the awards

The 2nd Boondang Central Cultural Foundation for Practicing Humanity Award, co-hosted by the foundation established by Pastor Choi’s estate and the Kookmin Ilbo on Oct. 5, honored nine cultural organizations and 52 artists (including four Christian journalists). Prizes totaled $481 million, more than double the amount awarded at last year’s inaugural ceremony. The Press Culture Award, which is for the general media, will be held separately this November at the Maeil Business Daily headquarters in Chungmu-ro, Seoul.

 

▲ Boondang Central Cultural Foundation for Practicing Humanity / Director Choi Jeong-chun

Choi, “I will build people to change the world”

Head judge Lee Jeong-eok, “Screening was strictly made for contributions to culture, art and practice of humanity”

“The meaning of this award is to encourage many people in our society to join in the vision and goal of nurturing people and changing the world. Under the goal of ‘people as promised, as determined, until the end’, our promise and principles to practice the gospel with salvation of life, uprightness and emotion of life, and bread will continue to be kept. This award is to find and support hidden talents who have shown remarkable performance and meritorious contributions in various fields of Korean culture and arts, including Christians, and those who are talented enough to be recognized, and those who are displaying their talents domestically and internationally for the development of society, culture, and arts even in difficult circumstances.” said Choi. Kim Kyung-ho, president of Kookmin Ilbo, and Yoo Byung-chae, director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Public Communication Office, delivered congratulatory and encouraging remarks. Head judge Lee Jeong-eok said  “Contributions to the field of arts and culture, contribution to the practice of humanity, public spread of the gospel and arts and culture, and global capabilities were the main criteria for the selection, and seven experts conducted a rigorous and fair review.” Nine organizations and 52 individuals were selected as finalists for the following awards: Grand Prize for 1, Best Talent Award for 3, Outstanding Talent Award for 15, Talent Support Award for 26, Friendship Award (Cultural Vulnerable Group) for 12, and Christian Media Culture Award for 4.

 

Grand Prize went to a tenor elder Park Jeong-ho, a pioneer of Korean gospel

Park, “I hope many talented people will achieve artistic fulfillment through this award”

Elder Park graduated from Seoul National University College of Music in 1985 and from Meneses Graduate School of Music Professional Studies in 2002, and has served as a visiting professor at Handong University’s Faculty of Basic Liberal Arts, host of CBS FM’s “Park Jeong Ho’s Gospel Hour,” and professor of worship and praise at Jeonju National University. Since the release of his first album, The Living God, in 1988, he has released a number of albums, including Receive Me, The Narrow Road, and Until I See All the Nations, which have helped popularize Christian music. He helped the underprivileged by organizing the Hemin Concert for Hungry Refugees (1994) and the Dawn Wings Concert for Hungry Children (1999), and was also committed to social contribution and missionary work internationally. He practiced humanity by establishing an AIDS orphanage in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (2006) and an AIDS hospital and orphanage in Kolapur, India (2007). He was the first gospel singer to hold “The Classical Concert” at the Seoul Arts Center (2004), an artistic attempt to harmonize Christian and classical music. Park said “I am grateful that God has graciously guided me over the years as a praise minister to provide spiritual comfort, especially for missionaries, and to fulfill my social responsibility. I hope that the Foundation will continue to play an important role in helping and encouraging artists who are in difficult and challenging circumstances so that a beautiful world full of God’s blessings can be created and many talented people in the field of culture and arts can fulfill their social contributions and artistic achievements.”

 

The Best Talent Award for group went to Gwangya Arts Center and for individual to pianist Yoo Ye-eun

The Best Talent Award for group went to Gwangya Arts Center (Director Missionary Yoon Sung-in). The Center has performed the musicals Lucas, Abba, and The Gospel of John, and has grown into a multidisciplinary cultural space. The Best Talent Award for individual went to film maker Kim Deok-young (59), who has been making documentary films for 30 years, including “The Founding War” (2024), which mobilized 1.17 million viewers, and “Kim Il-sung’s Children” (2020), which was selected as an official competition film at 17 international film festivals around the world; and Yoo Ye-eun (22), a genius pianist who started studying music at the age of three as a blind child and won first place in the New Music Competition (2011) and the music documentary “Miracle Piano” (2015), which was released as a movie. A total of five organizations and 10 individuals were awarded the Outstanding Talent Award: 9 Music Society (CEO Bae Ye-rang), which has contributed to the popularization of classical music and artistic innovation through its various ensembles and chamber orchestra activities; Mulmangcho (CEO Park Sun-young), the only North Korean women’s choir in Korea; You Angel Voice (CEO Park Ji-hyang), which has contributed to the welfare of the underprivileged; Tashkent 1 Sejong Institute (CEO Heo Sun-haeng), which has contributed to Korean-Uzbek cultural exchange; and Compassion Korea (CEO Seo Jung-in), an international childcare organization that aims to change the lives of impoverished children around the world; Author Kang Byeong-in (62), Researcher Kang Yong-soo (56) at the Institute of Philosophy at Korea University, Photographer Koo Seung-hoe (45), Media missionary Ricky Kim (43), Peace Chelstian Bae Beom-joon (27), Seoul National University Professor Shim Sang-yong (63), Calligrapher Yang Sun-duk (70), Singer Lee Joo-ho (68), Actor Cho Soo-hwan (43), and Actor Cho Hwi-kyung (30). The Talent Support Award went to two groups and 24 individuals. The Harmony Award went to one group and 11 individuals among culturally vulnerable artistic talents such as children of multicultural families, North Korean defectors, disabled people, children of missionaries and pastors.

The Christian Media and Culture Award went to four reporters who have spread Christian values. The winners were Kim In-ae (41), a reporter at CTS Christian TV, Oh Sang-heon (39), the head of the monthly interview reporting team, Lee Dae-woong (44), the editor-in-chief of Christian Today, and Hwang Seung-young (50), the editor-in-chief of Korea Holiness Newspaper. The award will be held again next year to recognize cultural and artistic contributions. Senior pastor Choi said “Starting with next year’s award ceremony, we plan to refrain from group awards and instead seek out and provide more opportunities to talented individuals and hidden talents in the cultural and artistic fields.”

백종원 기자  bridgekorea@naver.com