The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday that conductor Han-Na Chang has been appointed president of the Seoul Arts Center.
The ministry said Chang is the first woman president of the center with a professional musician’s background since it opened in 1987, calling the appointment meaningful for broadening diversity in the arts. Chang is coordinating her travel to Korea for the inauguration and is expected to receive her letter of appointment from the minister as early as April 24, starting a three-year term.
Chang is an internationally recognized cellist and conductor. She won the grand prize at the 5th Rostropovich International Cello Competition at age 11 and made her international debut in 1994. She has performed with leading orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Since 2007, she has conducted a range of orchestras mainly in Europe and North America, building an international network and broad repertoire. In South Korea, she served as artistic director of “Han-Na Chang’s Absolute Classic Festival” at Seongnam Arts Center (’09-’14) and “Han-Na Chang’s Daejeon Grand Festival” at Daejeon Arts Center (’24-’25). In November 2025, she was appointed a visiting distinguished professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’s Graduate School of Culture Technology.
Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said Chang brings “rich on-the-ground experience and leadership accumulated over 32 years,” along with extensive ties to global music organizations and artists. He said he expects her to present a new artistic vision and lead the center forward as “K-culture” expands worldwide.
The ministry also said Yoo Mi-jung, a professor in the piano department at Dankook University, was appointed CEO of the National Symphony Orchestra, and Park Hye-jin, a professor in the vocal music department at Dankook University, was appointed head and artistic director of the National Opera Company. Both will serve three-year terms.
Yoo is a pianist who graduated from the Peabody Institute’s piano department and graduate school and completed the Artist Diploma program at the Yale School of Music. The ministry said she has remained active through concerto performances and recitals. Yoo previously taught at Yonsei University and the Korea National University of Arts, served as an adjunct professor at Gachon University, and has been a professor at Dankook University since 2003.
Park studied vocal music at Yonsei University and earned a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music. She has been a professor at Dankook University’s College of Music and Arts since 2009. The ministry said she has performed widely at home and abroad, taking leading roles in operas including “La Boheme,” “Carmen” and “Turandot,” and won the female lead award at the 5th Korea Opera Awards.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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