Choir also earns closing performance honor at the international competition's top prize ceremony; win follows second-place finish at last year's Edvard Grieg International Choral Competition
The Seodaemun-gu Women's Choir won the Grand Prix — the top prize — at the 2026 World Choralympic international choral competition held in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, on May 30, Seodaemun-gu announced Friday. District Mayor Lee Seong-heon made the announcement.
The four-day event is an international festival that brings together choirs from around the world to advance choral music through performances, competitions and cultural exchange.
With some countries unable to send delegations in person due to the current international climate, organizers added an online category this year. The Seodaemun-gu Women's Choir competed on-site and claimed the competition's highest honor with outstanding musicality and a polished stage presentation.
The choir entered two categories. In the "adult choir" division, it performed "Echo in the Forest" (composed by Lee Yong-ju), "Ain't No Grave" (P. Caldwell & S. Ivory) and "Gyeongbokgung Taryeong" (arranged by Kim Hee-jo). In the "folk choir" division, it performed "Sabong Nakjo" (composed by Oh Byeong-hee) and "Arirang" (composed by Kim Eun-jeong).
The ensemble drew high praise from the judges for its broad musical range — spanning lyrical Korean choral works, African American spirituals and traditional Korean folk songs — and for the strength of its ensemble sound.
The win is seen as the fruit of the choir members' consistent effort under conductor Kim Gyeong-mi, who took the podium for the first time in March last year.
During the competition, the choir also took part in a special program performing alongside students from Vinschool Grand World, a local education community in Vietnam. It was further honored with a spot on the closing performance stage at a traditional venue inside Grand World in Phu Quoc.
The invitation recognized the choir's artistic excellence and stage presence. Members connected with participants and audiences from around the world through music, showcasing the strength of South Korea's choral culture.
The choir said it aims to build on this achievement with more active performances and to contribute to the development of arts and culture in the local community.
The Seodaemun-gu Women's Choir regularly performs at annual concerts and local cultural events, bringing high-quality choral music to residents. The group also placed second in the "Nordic composers and others" category at the Edvard Grieg International Online Choral Competition in December last year.
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