Meritorious Artist
Jeong Gwancheol, Torchlight of Bocheonbo, 1948 (Image from North Korean Art Museum published by Chosŏn hwaposa, 1980), MMCA Art Research Center Collection, Gift of Kim Boggi

Meritorious Artist

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Meritorious Artist [Gonghun Yesulga] is a term coined in 1952. It is used as a title for artists "who have realized Juche art and culture philosophy and have contributed to the development of socialist ethnic art through the implementation of the arts and culture policies of the Worker's Party.” The title of Artist of Merit was established by order of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 4 June 1952, and it is bestowed to artists working in the fields of painting, sculpture, songwriting, and crafts. In fine arts, the title is given to artists who have been praised by the party leader, or who have won special prizes or the gold medal at the State Art Exhibition. In 1956, Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly decided to bestow the title to Moon Seok-o, a sculptor. Afterwards, numerous artists including Jeong Gwancheol and Seon U-dam received the title.
* Source: Multilingual Glossary of Korean Art by Korea Arts Management Service