SK Innovation’s GMF Serves as a Gateway for Musicians with Developmental Disabilities

[Financial News] The National Festival of Musicians with Developmental Disabilities (GMF), held annually by the nonprofit social welfare organization Heart-to-Heart Foundation with support from SK Innovation, has established itself as a cultural and arts platform for people with disabilities. Over the past 10 years since 2017, 326 teams and 3,313 musicians with developmental disabilities have participated. About 140 of them have achieved social milestones, including entering music colleges, finding employment, or starting businesses.
SK Innovation announced these figures on the 2nd, marking the GMF’s 10th anniversary this year. A total of 36 teams from across the country entered the preliminary round, and six teams were selected to advance to the finals after evaluation.
At the 10th GMF, held the previous day at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, the Namsan ART Orchestra won the Grand Prize and received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award along with prize money of 10 million won. The Raon Trio won the Excellence Award, while the Sonullim Traditional Korean Music Ensemble and G-Cap Band received the Outstanding Awards. The Encouragement Awards went to Aviento and Haeum Orchestra.
The event was attended by Jeong Hyang-mi, director of the Cultural Arts Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Choo Hyeong-wook, CEO of SK Innovation; Oh Ji-cheol, chairman of the Heart-to-Heart Foundation; Hong Jun-hwa, head of the advertising business division at SM Culture & Contents; and Kim Dae-jin, professor at Korea National University of Arts.
Over the past decade, the GMF has developed into a virtuous-cycle model that discovers and nurtures musicians with developmental disabilities and connects them with performances and social independence. It is regarded as having established itself as a gateway to social participation and self-reliance for musicians with developmental disabilities, going beyond one-off performances or competitions.
Teams discovered through the GMF have actively performed on stages in Korea and abroad, including collaborations with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, performances at the Yeongbingwan State Guest House, and an invitation to perform at the United Nations’ World Day of Persons with Disabilities event in New York. Through these opportunities, they have grown into professional performing groups.
Kang Chung-sik, vice president of SK Innovation, said, "We will support musicians with developmental disabilities so that their talents can lead beyond education and performances to social achievements." He added, "Just as Janghak Quiz has become SK Group’s signature social contribution program after continuing for many years, we will establish the GMF as a social contribution brand representing SK Group."

[email protected] Kim Mi-hee Reporter