On October 14, Korean soprano Sumi Jo was appointed as a visiting distinguished professor in the Graduate School of Culture Technology (GSCT). Professor Jo, known for winning the 1992 Grammy Awards for the best opera recording along with other prestigious international competitions, will join the KAIST faculty until September 2024.
Professor Jo is expected to give leadership lectures for undergraduate and graduate students starting in the Spring 2022 semester. She will also collaborate with Professor Juhan Nam to research the generation and analysis of music using artificial intelligence, as well as stage directing and production technologies for the future. GSCT has also announced that the “Sumi Jo Performing Arts Research Center” will be established. With insights based on Professor Jo’s personal experiences, the center will promote research in futuristic art and technology. The center aims to achieve advancements in imaging, audio processing, and interactive technologies for realistic rendering of artists performing through virtual media such as holograms. Research on future performance copyrights and platforms, intersecting with the topics of metaverse and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), are also to be carried out. Furthermore, Professor Jo will hold a special performance and interact with students at the regular cultural event this December.
The appointment ceremony was held in the Yang Seungtaik Auditorium in the Main Library (E9). Professor Jo attended the ceremony online from Portugal, saying, “I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to meet students as a visiting distinguished professor at KAIST, the birthplace of science and technology in Korea, and to think about the convergence of culture and technology.” She added, “I will do my best to contribute to the research of combining arts with science and technology to improve our quality of life within a rapidly changing world.”
This recent appointment is in line with the policies KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee has set out to strengthen education in the arts and humanities at KAIST. It is anticipated that Professor Jo’s insights as a world-class musician will broaden perspectives and allow for more innovation in culture and arts technology.