Park Hye-jin, former director of the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, has been appointed as the 15th director and artistic director of the National Opera of Korea. Her term will span three years.

Park graduated from the Department of Vocal Music at Yonsei University before completing her master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music. Since 2009, she has served as a professor in the Department of Vocal Music at Dankook University. In 2022, she was appointed director of the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, an organization under the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, where she was recognized for her efforts to broaden opera’s appeal through major repertoire planning and outdoor concerts.

“I consider it meaningful to take office as the director and artistic director of the National Opera, which has led the development of opera in Korea,” Park said, per an official press release. “I will present a variety of stages and programs so that more audiences can naturally encounter and become familiar with opera.”