South Korean Hwang Byeong-gi, the renowned player of the traditional Korean instrument the “kayagum,” has been named the grand-prize winner of the 21st Fukuoka Asian Culture Prizes.

The award committee said Hwang has a profound understanding of the tradition of the instrument and has supplemented this with multiple international performances and acclaim.

The committee said Hwang’s compositions have appealed not only to Korea and Asia, but to the world as a whole.

The Fukuoka Asian Culture Prizes were established in 1990 to honor the outstanding work of individuals or organizations in the creation and preservation of Asian culture.