Seoul Institute of the Arts

Seoul Institute of the Arts is a prominent educational institution specializing in the Arts located in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The school has nurtured many graduates who are actively working in art related fields within Korea as well as internationally. The Namsan campus in the heart of Seoul is used for presentation of arts productions and convergence with industry. The Ansan Campus opened in 2001 and is used for educational training, which aims to tear down barriers between disciplines, genres, and majors. The Institute continues to be a forerunner in globalization of Korean arts and creation of new forms of arts. Purpose of establishment Through theater education, it was established to overcome the breakdown of national culture caused by the Japanese colonial period and the Korean war, and to nurture professional artists who will establish and revitalize national cinema. History August 1958 – Korean Theatre Research Institute was founded. April 1962 – Drama Center and Theatre Library were opened. June 1962 – Korean Theatre Academy was founded (closed March 1964). March 1964 – Seoul Drama School was founded (closed December 1973) December 1973 – Seoul Art Academy was founded. December 1978 – Seoul Art Academy was renamed to Seoul Art College. February 1982 – Korean Theatre Research Institute was renamed to Korea Research Center for Arts. February 1998 – Korea Research Center for Arts was renamed to Dongnang Art Center. June 1998 – Seoul Art College was renamed to Seoul Institute of the Arts. March 2001 – Namsan Education Center was opened. September 2002 – Dongnang Acting Class for the Youth was opened. Former presidents Prof. Yoo Duk-hyung (December 1978 – March 1994) Prof. Yang Jung-hyun (March 1994 – March 1998) Prof. Kim Ki-duk (March 1998 – March 2001) Ahn Min-soo (March 2001 – February 2004) Ro Kun-il (March 2004 – February 2007) Prof. Yoo Duk-hyung (March 2007 – July 2019) Lee Nam-shik (August 2019 - July 2022) Yoo Tae-kyun (August 2022)