Kim Soon-iy

Biography

Carrying a grandmother’s dance to today’s stage

Kim Soon-iy is a Korean traditional dance artist and certified successor (isuja) of Bukcheong Saja-noreum, the lion mask dance drama from Bukcheong, designated as National Intangible Heritage No. 15 in 1967.

She is the granddaughter and student of the late Lee Geun-hwa-seon, honorary holder of the heritage, who began dancing in the lion play at the age of four and helped revive it in the South after the Korean War.

In December 2025 she directed and choreographed Bukcheong Dance: Itda (Connecting) in Seoul, a memorial performance marking the tenth anniversary of her teacher’s passing, supported by the Korea Heritage Service.

She holds a master’s degree in Culture and Arts Management from Sungkyunkwan University and is a certified arts educator, teaching Korean culture in schools and international student exchanges.