Popera Tenor Lim Hyoungju Appointed as First Chairman of Yongsan Cultural Foundation

The Youngest Chairman Ever Among Seoul's District Cultural Foundations

Popera tenor Lim Hyoungju. Photo by DGNcom

Popera tenor Lim Hyoungju has been nominated as the inaugural chairman of the Yongsan Cultural Foundation in Seoul.

Yongsan District began a public recruitment process for the chairman in October last year and, after a review by the executive recommendation committee, selected Lim Hyoungju as the first chairman. The term of office is two years from the date of appointment, with the possibility of one reappointment.

Yongsan District plans to hold a meeting of the foundation's incorporators and the inaugural board of directors on December 18, during which Lim Hyoungju will be presented with his letter of appointment. At 39 years old, Lim Hyoungju is the youngest person ever to serve as chairman of a cultural foundation among Seoul's autonomous districts.

The Yongsan Cultural Foundation will be responsible for operating Yongsan District's cultural facilities, establishing local cultural policies, and supporting artists and organizations. The district plans to proceed with subsequent steps such as applying for establishment approval and registering the corporation following a board resolution, with the official launch of the foundation scheduled for February 2026.

Since his debut in 1998, Lim Hyoungju has performed as a popera tenor on stages both in Korea and abroad for 27 years. He performed a solo rendition of the national anthem at the inauguration of President Roh Moo-hyun in February 2003, held a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York, became the first Korean musician to sign with all four major record labels, and served as a promotional ambassador for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, also performing at the Paralympic opening ceremony. He is currently a distinguished professor of vocal music at the Rome City University of the Arts.

Lim Hyoungju stated, "It is deeply meaningful and I am grateful to be able to contribute, even in a small way, to the field of culture and arts where I have worked for 27 years, for Yongsan District, where I was born and raised."

Meanwhile, Lim Hyoungju served as an election advisory committee member for the National Election Commission and as a standing member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Democratic and Peaceful Unification during the Moon Jae-in administration in 2017 and 2019.