Seungmi Seo, Professor at Gyeongin National University of Education, Appointed as New Director of National Gugak Center

Former Daegeum Performer
Two-Year Term

Choi Huieung (left), Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, poses for a commemorative photo after appointing Professor Seungmi Suh from the Department of Music Education at Gyeongin National University of Education as the Director of the National Gugak Center. Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 12th that it has appointed Seungmi Seo, Professor of Music Education at Gyeongin National University of Education, as the new Director of the National Gugak Center. Her term will last two years, until June 2028.

Director Seo is a former daegeum (Korean bamboo flute) performer. She graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Korean Traditional Music, earned a master’s degree from the same graduate school, and received a doctorate in philosophy of art from Sungkyunkwan University. From 1993 to 1995, she was a member of the National Gugak Center ensemble.

Since 2005, she has served as a professor at Gyeongin National University of Education, where she also held the positions of vice-president and dean of the Graduate School of Education. After serving as vice-president of the Korean Society for Research in Gugak Education last year, she became president of the Korean Society for Gugak Education in March this year.

Choi Hwiyoung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "I expect that the new Director, Seo, will use her experience gained as a gugak educator and performer, together with her communicative leadership, to lead the National Gugak Center in a stable manner."

The National Gugak Center, founded in 1951, operates its main center in Seoul and branch offices in Namwon, Jindo, and Busan, where it is engaged in the preservation and promotion of Korean traditional music.

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