Culture Ministry names Seoul Art Center head, other high-profile appointments

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Conductor Chang Han-na was named president of the Seoul Arts Center as part of a series of high-profile appointments to the country's leading arts institutions that were announced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Monday.

Chang is the first female musician to lead the center since it opened in 1988, according to the ministry press release. Her three-year term is expected to begin on April 24.

Chang rose to international prominence at 11, winning the Rostropovich International Cello Competition in 1994, and later performed with ensembles including the Berlin Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic.

Since turning to conducting in 2007, she has led major orchestras across Europe, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic. She also served as music director of Norway’s Trondheim Symphony Orchestra from 2017 to 2025. She is currently principal guest conductor of the Hamburg Symphony and a visiting professor at KAIST.

Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said Chang’s leadership and global insight are expected to bring a “new artistic vision” for the Seoul Arts Center as Korean culture continues to expand abroad.

The ministry also appointed soprano Park Hye-jin as artistic director and chief executive of the National Opera Company and pianist Yoo Mee-jung as chief executive of the National Symphony Orchestra. Both of their terms began Monday and are also scheduled to last three years.

Park has performed major operatic roles with the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, while Yoo has built a career spanning concert performance and music education.

BY MICHAEL LEE [[email protected]]