Jooho Kim

Jooho(Jay) KIM, former CEO at LOTTE Concert Hall (a purpose-built music hall with 2018 seats due to open in September 2015 in Jamsil, Seoul, South Korea), worked in arts administration sector for over last 26 years, having started his first career at the Seoul Arts Centre in 1987, worked on the opening of the Seoul Arts Centre's Concert Hall and Opera House and various performing arts and international relations programs. In 1997, Jooho Kim had taken a position of the General Manager at the LG Arts Centre for the Performing Arts, worked on opening of the LG Arts Centre in Gangnam on 27 March 2000 and created opening festivals and performing arts programs for the Centre. Jooho's projects at LG Arts Centre were sensational especially in marketing and theatre management aspects, greatly contributing to the Theatre Management field in Korea. One of his last contributions to the LG Arts Centre was a season of musical Phantom of the Opera at the Centre. Jooho left LG Arts Centre in 2002 to work as a Principal Consultant on cultural policy at Metaa Consulting Inc. providing solutions and strategies for arts and cultural institutions. In 2006, Korean Government appointed Jooho Kim as the founding president and CEO of the Korean Arts and Cultural Education Services (KACES) for three years. In 2009, Seoul Metropolitan City Government appointed Mr Jooho Kim to be the CEO and President of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO)for three years. At SPO, Jooho worked in close collaboration with Maestro Myung-Whun Chung, and during his tenure he has been recognized with his successful leadership in the orchestra's phenomenal growth. Major accomplishments include the first time ever 9-city-tour to Europe and a long term label contract with Deutsche Gramophone, among many others. Mr Jooho Kim visited North Korea with Maestro Chung in September 2011 under the invitation of Korea Performing Art Exchange Society in Pyongyang.

Jooho's professional career expanded beyond his main position. Dedicating himself as a non-executive director, Jooho served as a board member of KBS Symphony Orchestra. With his profound expertise in arts and cultural affairs, he also devoted himself as the member of Arts Advisory Committee under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the governor of Federation for Asia Cultural Promotion (FACP).

For a year from 2007, Jooho Kim was also member of cultural committee of Korean National Commission for UNESCO. His previous commitments include a member of National Curriculum Steering Committee with Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development and a board member of Asian Arts Centre for Performing Arts.

Jooho holds MA degree in Linguistics (1984) from the Korea University and Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Administration (1991) from the City University London. His written works are 'Music Business Hand Book (1998)' and 'Arts Administration (2002)' and hose are widely used as textbooks in universities for arts majors.

Jooho Kim, at the age of 53, passed away in his home on 26 May 2013. The cause was a sudden heart attack. It was two days before his scheduled trip to Vienna to speak at the Classical Next Conference with the topic of 'Classical in Korea'.

Jooho Kim lived a life as a pioneer not only as the first generation art administrator in Korea but as a highly respected technocrat based purely on his deep knowledge, passion and experience in the subject matter and human network in his own field which is honored and appreciated both by political and business sectors in Korea. He was a leader, a teacher, a protector, a diplomat, a social servant and a friend to many artists and arts managers in Korea and abroad.

Jooho will be greatly missed.