ROK Navy Band 대한민국해군군악대 / Republic of Korea

In April 1946, amid lingering cold winds, the music of the Republic of Korea Navy Band began to play. Though it was a time of scarcity and hardship, and the musicians held worn and humble instruments in their hands, their hearts were filled with incomparable pride and a profound sense of duty. Their belief that their performances would become the honor and dignity of the Republic of Korea Navy, and serve as a milestone in Korea’s wind music history, has remained the unwavering identity and driving force of the ROK Navy Band to this day. The ROK Navy Band will continue to resonate with noble sounds, serving as a source of pride for its comrades and conveying to the Korean people the vast seas safeguarded by the Navy and the profound values it upholds.

Conductor Lim Jongseok
Lt. Commander Lim Jongseok, who conducts the Republic of Korea Navy Band, is recognized as a conductor who draws out the band’s finest performances through smooth communication and rapport with his musicians. After graduating from the Korea National University of Arts, School of Music, with a major in instrumental performance, he gained extensive musical experience as a French horn player, performing as a guest musician with ensembles such as the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Chungnam Provincial Symphony Orchestra. Following his commissioning as a Navy officer (OCS Class 114), he broadened his experience as a conductor in the Navy Band, engaging with a wide range of musical genres. He has served as the Chief of the Navy Band at the Jinhae Naval Base Command and the Republic of Korea Fleet Command. To deepen his musical insight and deliver moving interpretations as a conductor, he pursued graduate studies in conducting at the Department of Music, Kyung Hee University. He actively shares the mission and values of the Republic of Korea Navy with audiences through numerous performances, including major government events, national ceremonies, cultural performances, the Korea Armed Forces Concert for National Defense, as well as concerts organized or hosted by local governments and various institutions. Currently, he serves as the Chief of the Navy Headquarters Band, and he aspires to achieve profound communication with audiences through music, guided by his philosophy that ‘music is not merely sound, but a language of emotions that transcends time and space.’