Kim In-jae Takes the Helm of Gangnam Choir: How His Leadership Will Transform Performances by 2028

The Gangnam Cultural Foundation (Chairman Kim Jong-seop) announced on April 23 that it appointed Kim In-jae, the former principal conductor and artistic director of the Daegu City Choir, as the artistic director and non-resident conductor of the Gangnam Choir on the 22nd.

Kim was chosen through a public recruitment process that began in February. The selection followed three rounds of assessment—document screening, a practical audition and an interview—and a recommendation from the Gangnam Arts Ensemble operations committee. His two-year term runs through April 21, 2028.

Kim graduated from Dankook University’s College of Music, earned a master’s degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College in the United States, and studied choral conducting and choral literature at Illinois State University. He has worked with the Jeju and Jeonju municipal choirs and later served as principal conductor of the Gwangju and Daegu city choirs. Colleagues have praised his attentive conducting style and sincere leadership.

Kim said he plans to “establish firm professional standards for the choir’s performance and foster genuine harmony among its members. I aim to move more people with higher-quality music, offering deep comfort and creating stages that engage audiences continuously.”

Kim Jong-seop, chairman of the Gangnam Cultural Foundation, said he expects the new artistic director to draw on his experience with several municipal choirs to advance and stabilize the Gangnam Choir. “I hope he will play a major role in helping the choir grow into one that audiences love through a broader range of programming,” Kim added.