By Park Jin-hai
Jung Jae-wal, the new chief executive of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), has announced a master plan to revitalise one of Korea’s oldest orchestras.
“This year has several anniversaries overlapping for the SPO. It marks the 80th anniversary since its founding in 1945 and the 20th anniversary of independence from the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. To commemorate these occasions, we’re planning something special,” said the 60-year-old, who took office in October, this week.
He described the SPO’s past 20 years as a roller-coaster ride, marked by a decade of growth followed by a decade of challenges, notably intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Our goals align and I have 100 per cent trust in van Zweden. I’m aware of the differing opinions on his performances, but I believe that such differences will be accepted at the right moment
But within 10 years, Jung hopes to take the SPO to new heights, reaching a level where it can compete with the world’s most prestigious orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic.
