Chilgok-gun County Chief Kim Jae-wook cuts a cake at a ceremony marking the third anniversary of Suni and the Seven Princesses, a grandmother rap group from Chilgok-gun. [Chilgok-gun]
Chilgok-gun County Chief Kim Jae-wook cuts a cake at a ceremony marking the third anniversary of Suni and the Seven Princesses, a grandmother rap group from Chilgok-gun. [Chilgok-gun]

A grandmother rap group from Chilgok-gun in North Gyeongsang Province that took up rapping while learning hangul has marked its third anniversary, having gone from popular domestic television appearances to international online platforms.

The group, known as Suni and the Seven Princesses, held a third-anniversary celebration Monday morning at the Chilgok-gun county office. County Chief Kim Jae-wook attended to congratulate the grandmothers on the milestone.

The event opened with the reading of a memorial letter honoring Seo Mu-seok, a founding member who died before the anniversary. The group then lit candles on a cake, performed rap numbers and took commemorative photos.

Suni and the Seven Princesses was formed in August 2023, centered on grandmothers who had been learning hangul in Shin 4-ri, Jicheon-myeon, Chilgok-gun.

The group drew wide attention by rapping lyrics they wrote themselves and gained national recognition through appearances on major television programs, including KBS's "Human Theater."

They recorded a song promoting efforts to address the low birth rate and took part in a road safety campaign aimed at preventing traffic accidents involving elderly people. They have also performed at local events as a form of community service.

When founding member Seo died in 2024, the remaining members sent her off at the funeral home with a rap they had performed together during her lifetime. Broadcasters and news outlets widely covered the moment.

Her place in the group was filled through an open audition. Of six candidates, grandmother Lee Seon-hwa beat 6-to-1 odds to join as the newest member.

International media attention followed. Reuters, the Associated Press, Japan's NHK and China's CCTV all traveled to Chilgok to report on the grandmothers' daily lives and performances, and the coverage was picked up around the world.

Polish director Patrycja Skawska made a documentary about the group titled "Rap Like Grandma: Suni & 7 Princesses."

The film won the audience award at the Vindhya International Film Festival in India and received women's empowerment and mobile film awards at festivals in Milan, London and Berlin.

"Some friends have gone ahead of us, and new ones have joined, but when we get together and rap, it's still a lot of fun," said Park Jeom-sun, one of the grandmothers. "As long as our health allows, I want us all to keep rapping together."

County Chief Kim said the group had shown "that life can change when you keep learning and taking on challenges, even as you get older," adding that he hoped they would "stay healthy, keep performing, and continue to give hope and courage to many people."


husn7@heraldcorp.com