Renowned North Korean painter dies

SEOUL, Aug. 27 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean master painter, whose works are designated as the country's national treasures and who also garnered a following in the South, has died at age 62, a North Korean literary newspaper said in a recent edition.

Son U-yong, born in Pyongyang, built his name for realist drawings of objects and
landscapes. He was awarded the top Kim Il Sung Prize and named People's Artist,
the highest honor given to artists. About 60 of his works have been designated as
national treasures by the North.
The North's Literature Newspaper said he died on Aug. 7 but did not give the
reasons for his death.
Son has a legion of fans in South Korea. His works were given prominence at an
inter-Korean art exhibition in Seoul in 2002. In April this year, he was one of
the four North Korean artists a Buddhist-organized exhibition featured in Seoul.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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