묵계월

**Muk Gye-wol**, born Lee Kyung-ok (李瓊玉) in 1921 in Seoul, was a beloved master singer of **Gyeonggi minyo** (folk songs from the Gyeonggi region), earning her the title of "mingchang" for her incredible talent in preserving Korean traditional music. She poured her heart into classics like "Changbu Taryeong," "Gangwon-do Arirang," and collections such as *Gyeonggi 12 Jappga* and *Muk Gye-wol Mingchang Minyo Jip*, collaborating with legends like An Bi-chwi and Lee Eun-ju on albums from the 1970s through the '90s, including *Hanguk Godeon Minyo* series and her 1997 *Noraetgarak Jeonjip*.

With a career spanning decades, she mentored countless students, released tons of records that kept folk tunes alive, and even had her life story studied to map out the history of Gyeonggi minyo—she passed away in 2014, leaving a huge legacy in Korean traditional arts. Fans still groove to her warm, soulful voice on YouTube clips and Spotify tracks today.