In 1960, the year he turned 7, he made his debut playing Haydn’s Piano Concerto with the Seoul Philharmonic.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 21, he shared second place in piano at the Tchaikovsky International Competition. He was the first Korean to win a prize there, and a car parade from Gimpo Airport to Seoul City Hall greeted him on his return.
In 1976, he began his path as a conductor with the New York Youth Symphony. In 1978, he became assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He married in Los Angeles in 1979. In 1984, he became principal conductor of the Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra and conducted the KBS Symphony Orchestra for the first time. In 1986, he made his opera debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York with Simon Boccanegra.
In 1989, the year he turned 36, he was appointed music director of the Paris Bastille Opera. In March 1990, he led the opening performance of the Bastille Opera House with Berlioz’s Les Troyens. In 1994, he went to court after the theater dismissed him, and after the court recognized the validity of his contract, both sides agreed that he would leave the Bastille.
In 1995, he conducted the KBS Symphony Orchestra in the UN General Assembly Hall. In 1997, he founded the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra and took over the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome. In 1998, he became principal conductor of the KBS Symphony Orchestra but resigned after four months. In 2000, he became music director of the Radio France Philharmonic and special artistic advisor of the Tokyo Philharmonic.
In 2005, his hiring by the Seoul Philharmonic was confirmed, and he worked as artistic advisor that year. From 2006, he led the Seoul Philharmonic as artistic director and principal conductor. In 2011, the Seoul Philharmonic signed a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon, and in September he visited Pyongyang. In 2012, he conducted a joint concert of North Korea’s Unhasu Orchestra and the Radio France Philharmonic in Paris. In 2014, he took the Seoul Philharmonic to the BBC Proms.
In June 2015, he became honorary music director of the Radio France Philharmonic, and in December he resigned as artistic director of the Seoul Philharmonic. In 2017, prosecutors closed an airfare embezzlement allegation with a ruling of no charges. The same year he conducted the One Korea Orchestra. In 2018, he conducted the KBS Symphony Orchestra again after 20 years. In 2022, he became conductor laureate of the KBS Symphony Orchestra.
In 2023, he became the first honorary conductor of the La Scala Philharmonic and the first artistic director of Busan’s city venues. In 2025, he was chosen as the next music director of La Scala in Milan, with his term starting in 2027. In 2026, he took office as the tenth music director of the KBS Symphony Orchestra.
Myung-whun Chung (born Jan 22, 1953) made his debut playing with the Seoul Philharmonic in Oct 1960, the year he turned 7, and became known when he took second place in piano at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Jul 1974, the year he turned 21. In 1989, the year he turned 36, he was appointed music director of the Paris Bastille Opera.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Played the third movement of Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D major with the Seoul Philharmonic under Kim Saeng-ryeo at Seoul Civic Hall. He was seven years old.
Source 01 · Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · Conductor Chung Myung-whun, 50 years in music · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Column on Chung Myung-whun · opens in a new tabShared second place at the competition in Moscow. He was the first Korean to win a prize there, and a car parade from Gimpo Airport to Seoul City Hall was held when he returned.
Began his path as a conductor by leading the New York Youth Symphony in the United States.
Source 05 · Herald Business (Korean) · His first solo piano album · opens in a new tabBecame assistant conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where Carlo Maria Giulini was principal conductor. He says he had still not decided to become a conductor at that point.
Source 01 · Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · Conductor Chung Myung-whun, 50 years in music · opens in a new tabSource 06 · JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) · Chung takes the KBS Symphony Orchestra · opens in a new tabHeld his wedding in Los Angeles. His wife is a sister of the husband of his elder sister, the cellist Myung-wha Chung.
Source 07 · Woman Donga (Korean) · Maestro Chung’s family history · opens in a new tabBecame principal conductor of the Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra in Germany and served until 1990.
Source 08 · Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Yang Yu-ra, general music director of a German state theater · opens in a new tabConducted the KBS Symphony Orchestra for the first time. It was followed by about ten more guest-conducting appearances.
Source 06 · JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) · Chung takes the KBS Symphony Orchestra · opens in a new tabSource 16 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Principal conductor of two leading orchestras (1996) · opens in a new tab The concert date is not confirmed.Made his opera debut conducting Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra.
Source 09 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Simon Boccanegra conducted by Chung · opens in a new tabWas appointed music director of the Bastille Opera and moved to Paris with his family the next month. He was 36.
Source 10 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Washington Post interview with Chung (1990) · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Column on Chung Myung-whun · opens in a new tabLed the opening performance with Berlioz’s Les Troyens, a work that runs about five hours.
Source 10 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Washington Post interview with Chung (1990) · opens in a new tabSource 11 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Bastille Orchestra’s Korean tour (1990) · opens in a new tab A February 1990 article gave the performance date as March 17. The actual date is not confirmed.After the theater dismissed him unilaterally in August he went to court, and the court ruled that the 1992 contract was valid. Both sides agreed that he would remain music director until Oct. 14, when the Simon Boccanegra performances ended, and then leave.
Source 12 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Hearing on keeping the music director’s status and powers (1994) · opens in a new tabSource 13 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Bastille parts with Chung (1994) · opens in a new tabThe concert marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and of Korea’s liberation. He performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with Myung-wha Chung (cello) and Kim Young-uck (violin).
Source 14 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · UN 50th anniversary concert (1995) · opens in a new tabTook over the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Italy. He visited Korea with the orchestra that year.
Source 16 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Principal conductor of two leading orchestras (1996) · opens in a new tabSource 50 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Music in review of 1997 · opens in a new tabSource 49 · Korean Wikipedia · Chung Myung-whun · opens in a new tab A November 1996 article says he had agreed to take the orchestra. His years in the post (1997-2005) are from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.Became music director of a festival orchestra of about 100 players from eight Asian countries. The founding concerts were held in Tokyo on Jan. 24-26 and at the Seoul Arts Center on Jan. 29-30.
Source 15 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Founding of the Asia Philharmonic (1997) · opens in a new tabSource 50 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Music in review of 1997 · opens in a new tabWas named music director and principal conductor but resigned four months later. It was his first permanent post in Korea.
Source 17 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · KBS Symphony Orchestra assistant conductor audition (1998) · opens in a new tabSource 18 · Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Chung and the KBS Symphony Orchestra after 20 years · opens in a new tabSource 49 · Korean Wikipedia · Chung Myung-whun · opens in a new tab The statement that it was his first post in Korea is from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.Succeeded Marek Janowski as music director and led the orchestra for 15 years, until 2015.
Source 19 · News1 (Korean) · Named honorary music director of Radio France · opens in a new tab The start date is not confirmed.Declined an offer to become music director because of scheduling and accepted the post of special artistic advisor instead.
Source 20 · JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) · Tokyo Philharmonic honorary music director · opens in a new tabSeoul city announced that his hiring was confirmed, with a three-year contract. He worked as artistic advisor that year.
Source 21 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Chung Myung-whun, Seoul Philharmonic principal conductor · opens in a new tabSource 22 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Seoul Philharmonic under Chung · opens in a new tabAfter a year as artistic advisor, he began as artistic director and principal conductor. He led the Seoul Philharmonic for ten years, until 2015.
Source 23 · Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Seoul Philharmonic plans for the year · opens in a new tabSource 22 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Seoul Philharmonic under Chung · opens in a new tabSource 31 · News1 (Korean) · Last Seoul Philharmonic concert · opens in a new tab The day he took office is not confirmed.The appointment ceremony was held at Radio France headquarters in Paris. The year before, he had served as goodwill ambassador for UNICEF’s French committee.
Source 24 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador · opens in a new tabIt was the first long-term recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon for an Asian orchestra. The two sides agreed to release two albums a year for five years.
Source 25 · Newsis (Korean) · Seoul Philharmonic’s Deutsche Grammophon recording contract · opens in a new tabThe orchestra announced that he would take the post from the 2012/2013 season. It was the first time the orchestra had a principal guest conductor.
Source 26 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Principal guest conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden · opens in a new tabVisited Pyongyang for four days at the invitation of North Korea’s Korean Art Exchange Association. After returning, he said he would pursue regular joint concerts by North and South Korean orchestras.
Source 27 · My Daily (Korean) · Chung’s press conference after his North Korea trip · opens in a new tabConducted a joint concert of North Korea’s Unhasu Orchestra and the Radio France Philharmonic at Salle Pleyel in Paris. They played Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 and Arirang.
Source 28 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Arirang rings out in Paris · opens in a new tabHis first solo piano album, released on ECM, was recorded that July at La Fenice in Venice, Italy.
Source 05 · Herald Business (Korean) · His first solo piano album · opens in a new tabThe Seoul Philharmonic became the first Korean orchestra to play at the BBC Proms. They performed Unsuk Chin’s sheng concerto Šu, Debussy’s La mer and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6.
Source 29 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Chung at the BBC Proms · opens in a new tabReceived the title at the concert that ended his term as music director. He is the first honorary music director in the orchestra’s history.
Source 19 · News1 (Korean) · Named honorary music director of Radio France · opens in a new tabSent a letter to the players announcing his resignation. The next day he conducted Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at the Seoul Arts Center, his last concert with the Seoul Philharmonic.
Source 30 · KBS (Korean) · Chung resigns as Seoul Philharmonic artistic director · opens in a new tabSource 31 · News1 (Korean) · Last Seoul Philharmonic concert · opens in a new tabThe Tokyo Philharmonic announced the title of honorary music director as of Sept. 1.
Source 20 · JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) · Tokyo Philharmonic honorary music director · opens in a new tabThe Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office closed the complaint over alleged embezzlement of airfare during his time at the Seoul Philharmonic with a ruling of no charges. Police had also concluded in August of the previous year that there were no charges. Through a law firm, he said the allegation had been baseless.
Source 32 · Newsis (Korean) · Prosecutors close the airfare embezzlement allegation without charges · opens in a new tabConducted the newly formed One Korea Orchestra at a concert for the first anniversary of Lotte Concert Hall. The soloist on the first night was the pianist Seong-Jin Cho.
Source 33 · KBS (Korean) · Conducts the One Korea Orchestra · opens in a new tabSource 35 · Newsis (Korean) · One Korea Orchestra, conducting and playing piano at once · opens in a new tabConducted the KBS Symphony Orchestra’s 733rd subscription concert at the Seoul Arts Center, 20 years after his 1998 resignation.
Source 34 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Chung and the KBS Symphony Orchestra reunite after 20 years · opens in a new tabSource 18 · Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Chung and the KBS Symphony Orchestra after 20 years · opens in a new tabConducted and played the solo part in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 at the Seoul Arts Center.
Source 35 · Newsis (Korean) · One Korea Orchestra, conducting and playing piano at once · opens in a new tab Based on a pre-concert article.Entered the country after a self-quarantine and prepared a concert with the KBS Symphony Orchestra. He had planned to conduct Beethoven’s Choral Symphony but changed the piece because of COVID-19.
Source 36 · KBS (Korean) · Enters the country despite self-quarantine · opens in a new tab The concert date is not confirmed.His second piano album, on Deutsche Grammophon, contains Haydn’s Piano Sonata No. 60, Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30 and Brahms’s Four Pieces.
Source 37 · News1 (Korean) · Second piano album released · opens in a new tabIt was the first time the KBS Symphony Orchestra had named a conductor laureate. His term began on Jan. 1.
Source 38 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · First conductor laureate of the KBS Symphony Orchestra · opens in a new tabReceived it from Italian President Sergio Mattarella. It is the second class of the Order of Merit, and in 2017 he had received the third class.
Source 39 · Edaily (Korean) · Italian Order of Merit, second class · opens in a new tab The date is in local time.He is the first honorary conductor in the La Scala Philharmonic’s history. He had performed with it 120 times since their first collaboration in 1989.
Source 40 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · First honorary conductor of the La Scala Philharmonic · opens in a new tab The date is in local time.Busan city announced that he would be its first artistic director overseeing the Busan Opera House and the Busan International Art Center. His term began on July 1.
Source 41 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · First artistic director of Busan city venues · opens in a new tabAt the Seoul Arts Center concert, the pianist Seong-Jin Cho played Schumann’s Piano Concerto. It was the Tokyo Philharmonic’s first full Korean tour in 19 years, since 2005.
Source 42 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Tokyo Philharmonic in Korea in May · opens in a new tab Based on a pre-concert article.Will succeed Riccardo Chailly as music director from 2027 to 2030. He is the first Asian in the post, and the first non-Italian conductor chosen since the theater opened in 1778.
Source 43 · KBS (Korean) · Chosen as La Scala music director · opens in a new tabSource 44 · Kyeonggi Ilbo (Korean) · Chosen as La Scala music director · opens in a new tab The date is in local time.As artistic director, he gave the opening concert with the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra. In Beethoven’s Triple Concerto he conducted and played piano at the same time.
Source 45 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Busan Concert Hall opening concert · opens in a new tabHis three-year term runs from January 2026 to December 2028.
Source 46 · Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · KBS Symphony Orchestra music director · opens in a new tabGave his inaugural concert at Lotte Concert Hall on Jan. 16. The program was Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3.
Source 47 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · KBS Symphony Orchestra inaugural concert · opens in a new tab The program is from a pre-concert article.The Yeosu Music Festival announced that it had named him artistic advisor.
Source 48 · Edaily (Korean) · Named artistic advisor of the Yeosu Music Festival · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1960–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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Music · South Korea
Jan 22, 1953 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1953: the year of the event minus 1953, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.22 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.