Im Jin-taek, Former Chairman of Gyeonggi Arts Center, Appointed President of Korea Culture and Arts Education Service

Chairman is Kang Heon, Former CEO of Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation

On December 22, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the appointment of Im Jin-taek, former Chairman of the Gyeonggi Arts Center, as the new President of the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service. The ministry also appointed Kang Heon, former CEO of the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation, as the new Chairman of the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service. Both the new President and Chairman will serve three-year terms.

Im Jin-taek, the newly appointed President, is a theater director and master pansori singer who was awarded the Ok-Gwan Order of Cultural Merit in 1998. Over a career spanning more than 50 years, he has worked as a director and artistic director across various fields and has contributed to nurturing future generations as an adjunct professor at the School of Korean Traditional Arts at the Korea National University of Arts. He also served as Chairman of the Gyeonggi Arts Center, gaining experience as a leader of a professional cultural and arts institution.

Im Jin-taek, New President of the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Kang Heon, New Chairman of the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Kang Heon, the new Chairman, is a pop music critic and educator who has taught future generations for over 20 years at institutions such as Sungkyunkwan University and Dankook University. He has also served as CEO of the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and as the fifth President of the Korea Metropolitan Cultural Foundation Association. The Chairman is a non-executive position, responsible for convening and presiding over board meetings.

The Korea Culture and Arts Education Service was established in 2005 under the Culture and Arts Education Support Act. As a public institution under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, it carries out various cultural and arts education projects aimed at enhancing the quality of cultural life for citizens and strengthening the nation's cultural capabilities.

Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service, which has played a key role in enabling the public to enjoy culture and the arts," and added, "I hope the new President and Chairman will use their experience and expertise to ensure that everyone in the country can benefit from cultural and arts education."