Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young said Sunday that "the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will always provide firm support so that the miracle of K-musicals, achieved through the power of the region, can spread across the world." Choi posted these remarks on his social media after attending the closing ceremony of the Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF) the previous day.
"The 20th DIMF, which has now come of age, has completed its 18-day journey and brought the festival to a close," Choi said. "Having breathed together with more than 2.5 million audience members over the years, DIMF has grown into Asia's largest festival and has now firmly established itself as a comprehensive musical platform encompassing not only performance viewing but also the discovery of original musicals, the cultivation of talent, and global exchange."
He added, "As soon as I finished the 'K-Football Innovation Committee' meeting in Seoul, I headed straight to Daegu. At the awards ceremony, I personally presented the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award to Baekseok University's musical 'SUPERSTAR' team, which won the grand prize at the 'University Student Musical Festival.' This burning passion and talent of young people is precisely the powerful driving force that will lead our original musicals to the world stage."
Choi emphasized, "I congratulate with all my heart the awards of every cultural artist who joined us here, and I always cheer for your brilliant challenges. DIMF has blossomed into a brand unique to Daegu. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will always provide firm support so that the miracle of 'K-musicals,' achieved through the power of the region, can spread across the world."
Marking its 20th anniversary this year, DIMF featured 14 official invited works, six creative-support works, two special performances, eight university student musicals, and five reading performances. The opening ceremony was held on June 20 at the Daegu Kolon Outdoor Music Hall, while the closing ceremony, the 20th DIMF Awards, was held Saturday at the Keimyung Art Center.
