OKKYUNG LEE - Kim II Gu Special

Kim Il-Gu (김일구, 金一球, 1940 ~ ) is a famous Pansori singer in Korea, born in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do. When he was young, he entered the Gwangju Honam Gugak Centre to study Pansori, which became his musical foundation. After learning Ajang Sanjo from Jangwol Jung-seon in 1962, he mastered Gayageum from Won Ok-hwa in 1968 and completed Gayageum Sanjo. In 1980, he succeeded Sugung-ga from a famous Pansori singer Park Bong-sul, completely mastering all five Pansori performances. He is the only master musician in Pansori, Ajang, and Gayageum which is an outstanding achievement. In 1983, he received the President's Award from the Pansori Myeongsang Department of the Jeonju Great Succession National Competition. In 1985, he won the Special Award and the President's Award in the Instrumental Music Department of the Silla Cultural Festival. He was active in the National Changgeu Theatre Company and the National Gugak Centre. In 2020, Kim Il-Gu was designated as the holder of the National Intangible Cultural Property No. 5 Pansori 'Jeokbyeokga'.