UP CLOSE & PERSONAL – Newly appointed CEO of Tongyeong Concert Hall
Kim Il-Tae
Congratulations on your new appointment as the CEO of Tongyeong Concert Hall! Tell us what you are most excited about in taking on this new role.
Thank you for inviting me to share my thoughts. Tongyeong Concert Hall has been a long-cherished dream since the early days of the Tongyeong International Music Festival. Having been deeply involved in both the festival’s founding and the construction of the Hall, I have a special affection for this venue. The Tongyeong Concert Hall, recognised as a leading space for classical music in Korea and globally, played a pivotal role in Tongyeong’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Music in 2015.
The Tongyeong Festival and the Concert Hall have been two of the most significant parts of my life, making this new role feel like a final mission. Despite the high expectations, I am fully committed to preserving the Hall’s core values and expanding its reach to a broader audience.
What are your vision and goals for Tongyeong Concert Hall?
As a dedicated classical music venue, Tongyeong Concert Hall hosts the Tongyeong International Music Festival and the ISANGYUN Competition. In this small coastal city of 120,000, the community has united to elevate the festival to global prominence, and the Hall was built to match its esteemed status. Our primary goal is to lead Tongyeong’s growth into an international cultural city through music.
While the Hall is architecturally impressive, it also offers acoustics and facilities that are internationally competitive. My immediate focus is on maximising its potential. We plan to expand the foundation’s role, diversify our projects, and increase sponsorships. Additionally, we aim to integrate with the tourism sector to stimulate the local economy and establish Tongyeong as a leading cultural and musical hub.
Could you tell us more about the current arts scene in South Korea, and what you see as Tongyeong Concert Hall’s role in it?
Tongyeong Concert Hall stands as a beacon of classical music in South Korea, leading the way in classical performance culture. While many venues across the country are increasingly embracing popular music to address financial challenges, Tongyeong Concert Hall has remained committed to classical music. This commitment has resulted in numerous successful examples of how classical music can still thrive. Therefore, I believe it is crucial for the Hall to maintain its position as the central and leading venue for classical music in Korea.
Share with us some of Tongyeong Concert Hall’s key programmes.
Our three major projects are the Tongyeong International Music Festival, the ISANGYUN Competition, and the TIMF Academy.
The Tongyeong International Music Festival has established itself as one of the most important musical events in Asia since its foundation in 2002. The festival is dedicated to the Korean composer Isang Yun, who was born in Tongyeong but spent the latter part of his life in Berlin, Germany. Referred to as “the Salzburg Festival of Asia” by the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, it not only pays tribute to the music of Isang Yun but also aims to foster young composers and performers, with a strong focus on contemporary music in its programming. Since 2022, the festival’s Artistic Director has been the prominent composer Unsuk Chin.
The ISANGYUN Competition, held in memory of Isang Yun (1917-1995), aims to support emerging international soloists and promote cultural exchange. The competition alternates annually between three categories: Piano, Violin, and Cello. This year’s Violin edition will take place from 2 to 10 November at Tongyeong Concert Hall, with a distinguished jury led by Mihaela Martin, an outstanding violin virtuoso and professor at prestigious institutions including the University of Music in Cologne and the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin.
The TIMF Academy selects talented young musicians, offering them diverse curricula guided by renowned international instructors. Since 2022, the Academy has focused primarily on composition, curated by Unsuk Chin. This year’s Academy features prominent composer Dieter Ammann alongside Unsuk Chin, with Ensemble Intercontemporain, conducted by Pierre-André Valade, performing the works.
In addition to these major events, our season concerts at Tongyeong Concert Hall this season will showcase a diverse lineup of artists, including Seong-Jin Cho, Yunchan Lim, Alexandre Kantorow, Clara Jumi Kang, the Novus Quartet, the Münchener Kammerorchester, and the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne with Renaud Capuçon, among others.
Tell us a little about yourself – what were you doing before this and how did you come to be involved in the arts?
I’ve spent the last 40 years living in Gyeongnam Province, where I’ve built a diverse career as a broadcast producer, poet, cultural event manager, and performance director. My journey began in 1983 when I joined the broadcasting company MBC Gyeongnam as a producer. Over the course of 33 years, I produced various TV programmes and directed numerous events. My connection to the arts, particularly classical music, deepened when I created a special programme on composer Isang Yun, which led to my involvement in the Isang Yun memorial projects, including the Tongyeong International Music Festival.
In addition to my broadcasting career, I have been actively engaged in creative writing since debuting as a poet in 1992, publishing 10 poetry collections and receiving various literary awards. My passion for the arts also extended to the stage, where I wrote and directed musicals, dance dramas, and other theatrical productions. My work in these areas eventually brought me to my current role, where I continue to contribute to the arts through the Tongyeong International Music Festival and the ISANGYUN Competition.
How do you spend your time when you are not at work?
When I’m not at work, I dedicate time to writing poetry and reading, which I consider my true calling, as they provide both joy and wisdom. I also enjoy hiking, which offers a chance to stay healthy, reflect deeply, and connect with nature. Additionally, I make time to travel with my wife.
Since 2010, my wife and I have travelled to various destinations abroad. Our travels have been filled with both challenges and memorable experiences, which we’ve documented together in a book. We see these journeys as a reward for our hard work and a gift of gratitude and blessing to each other. As long as our health permits, we plan to continue exploring the world together.
Mr Kim with pianist Yunchan Lim