Kang Sue-jin, artistic director of the Korean National Ballet, will step down in April. Following her departure, Kang plans to nurture future talent as a professor at Seoul Cyber University.
The Korean National Ballet announced on the 26th that Kang will conclude her 12-year tenure on April 4. Kang is a world-renowned ballerina who joined the Stuttgart Ballet in 1986 at age 18 as the company's youngest member and was named best female dancer at the Benois de la Danse, often called "the Academy Awards of dance," in 1999.
Appointed in 2014 as successor to former artistic director Choi Tae-ji, Kang expanded the company's repertoire by introducing works from world-class choreographers. These included John Neumeier's "The Lady of the Camellias," George Balanchine's "Jewels," and John Cranko's "The Taming of the Shrew."
Since 2015, she has led the "KNB Movement Series," a project designed to develop emerging choreographers. Her tenure is also credited with improving employment stability through permanent staff expansion and strengthening private sponsorship.
"The past 12 years have been a passionate and happy chapter in my life," Kang said. "I am deeply grateful to the staff, dancers, and audiences who believed in me and supported me throughout my time with the Korean National Ballet. I will dedicate myself to mentoring future generations across society and give back the support I received as an artist."