South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced a series of high-profile appointments across its leading arts institutions, led by the naming of conductor and cellist Chang Han-na as the new president and chief executive of the Seoul Arts Center.
Chang becomes the first female musician to lead the institution since its opening in 1988. Her three-year term is set to begin on 24 April.
An international career returns to Seoul
Chang first gained international recognition as a cellist, winning the Rostropovich International Cello Competition at the age of 11. She went on to perform with major orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic.
Since turning to conducting in 2007, she has led ensembles across Europe, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic. From 2017 to 2025, she served as music director of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.
In a message shared on social media following the announcement, Chang reflected on her long-standing connection to the institution, recalling her first appearance at its Concert Hall at the age of nine. “I now return not to a single stage, but to the responsibility of leading Korea’s foremost arts institution,” she wrote, adding that she hopes to contribute to “deeper and broader service to arts and culture in Korea.”
The Seoul Arts Center, which houses multiple performance venues and museums, is one of the country’s central cultural institutions.
Additional appointments across national institutions
The ministry also confirmed the appointment of soprano Park Hye-jin as artistic director and chief executive of the National Opera Company of Korea, and pianist Yoo Mee-jung as chief executive of the National Symphony Orchestra of Korea.
Both appointments took effect on Monday and are likewise set for three-year terms.
Park has performed leading roles with the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, while Yoo’s career has combined concert activity with work in music education.
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