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[NEWS] Minzy’s Beloved Great-Grandmother Gong Ok Jin Passes Away #StayStrongMinzy
After fighting against the aftermath of a sudden stroke in 1998 and old age, Gong Ok Jin, 2NE1 Minzy’s great-grandmother passed away on the morning of July 9.
At 4:49am (KST) of July 9, Gong Ok Jin closed her eyes, leaving behind a legacy as perhaps one of Korea’s most legendary traditional dancers. She was 81-years old.
Although more famous in present day as having 2NE1’s Gong Minzy as her great-granddaughter, Gong Ok Jin held her own fame for her pansori (traditional singing) and Korean folk dance, especially her own creation of ‘the dance of the handicapped’ and ‘animal imitation dance,’ making her one of the most famous solo folk dancers in Korea.
After being told by the KPICAA (Korean Association for Preservation of Important Intangible Cultural Properties) that her new creations of folk dancing were not traditionally passed down from history, Gong Ok Jin never trained a successor, but despite not being officially acknowledged, Gong Ok Jin has laid down an important foundation for folk dance soloists, leaving behind a profound mark on the history of Korean folk culture.
According to YG Entertainment, upon hearing the sad news, Minzy is in shock and plans on going to the wake with her parents.
Park Jin Young, who was greatly influenced by Gong Ok Jin′s performances in the past, tweeted on July 9, “10 years ago, I went to see Gong Ok Jin′s performance while wearing a hat and mask to Daehangro. She was the greatest entertainer I′ve ever seen. In just one minute, she made crying people laugh, and laughing people cry. That was the first time I repeatedly cried and laughed the most in two hours. Thank you."
Her wake is currently held in Youngkwang in Jeonnam province. Her funeral will take place on July 11 in Busan.
We send our condolences to the family of Gong Ok Jin.
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Minzy was said to have fallen into a very deep state of sadness as soon as she heard the news of her great-grandmother’s death and has headed down to her hometown with her family to attend the funeral. 2NE1’s schedule will, most likely, undergo changes accordingly.
Minzy often talked about her great-grandmother because they both shared a passion for dance. While Minzy performed modern hi- hop styles, her grandmother performed traditional Korean dances. Without Minzy’s great-grandmother to pass on her love for dancing, we might not have the same dancing machine maknae we have today. Her great-grandmother often gave Minzy tips and helped monitor her performances. The two had a very close bond.
We know that Minzy loved her great-grandmother dearly, so we would like to send her family condolence flowers, along with other gifts, to let her know that Blackjacks even beyond Korea are all keeping her, her family, and her great-grandmother in their thoughts.
[FLASHPROJECT#05] Condolence Flowers for Minzy’s Grandmother
Thank you for your support and understanding.
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UPDATE — Just to understand what an iconic figure Gong Okjin was, Korea’s current President, Lee Myung-Bak, sent a beautiful wreath to the wake. The entire country is mourning the loss of this vibrant visionary.
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The wreath to the very far left says Lee Myun Bak on official letterhead.
Photo Credit: Minzy′s me2day
Source & Translated by: enewsWorld
Additional information provided by http://swaggalevel-1000.tumblr.com/ and staff@ygladies.com
Thank you for your support and understanding.