By Chung Ah-young
Korean magician Lee Eun-gyeol won this year’s Merlin Award of the International Magicians Society (IMS). The award is the top honor, equivalent to an Oscar in the movie business. It is given to the best magician in the world, who has achieved the highest level in their craft, based on talent, showmanship, originality, skills and entertainment.
World-renowned magicians David Copperfield and Harry Blackstone won the awards. Tony Hassini, president of the IMS, will present the award at Suseong Artpia in Daegu where Lee is performing as part of his tour “The Illusion” on March 27.
“This award has been given to the world’s top magicians such as David Copperfield and Siegfried & Roy. As a representative magician of Korea, I will fulfill my responsibility and mission given to me in order to make the Korean magician industry shine,” Lee said in a press release.
Initiated in 1968, the IMS is the world’s largest magic society with more than 37,000 members worldwide.