Kim Hee-sun (pictured in the center), the executive director of the Jeonju World Sound Festival, recently received the "Nangyeak Music Merit Award" at the '2025 Yeongdong World Traditional Music Expo' that opened recently.

Kim, who has served as the director of the National Gugak Center and as a professor at Konkuk University, was recognized for her active contributions as an expert in Korean traditional music and world music.

In particular, she was highly praised for her efforts in globalizing Korean music and raising the international status of Korean traditional music while serving as the executive director of the Jeonju World Sound Festival and as the chair of the International Council for Traditional Music's East Asia Music Research Group (ICTMDMEA).

Expressing gratitude for the award, Kim Hee-sun stated, "I will gratefully accept this award as a request for more efforts in the globalization of traditional music," and added, "I will make further efforts for the overseas expansion of our traditional music through various exchange activities and promotions."

The 'Nangyeak Music Merit Award' and 'Nangyeak Music Contribution Award,' initiated in 1997, are presented to scholars and artists who have contributed to the development of Korean traditional music, in honor of the achievements of the musician 'Nangye Park Yeon' from the Sejong era.