Who is Young Woo Kim?
I am an opera singer, a tenor who performs mainly in Europe. I am currently in my tenth year as a principal soloist at the Cologne Opera House in Germany.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
There is nothing I would do differently. As always, I step onto the stage with the same earnest heart, as if it were my last performance.
Who inspires you and why?
The person who inspires me is Jesus. He has renewed everything in my life. I once lost my voice due to an incurable illness, but through Him I was healed. Now I sing and learn with Him by my side, in good health.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
If I can make even a small difference, I want to share love through my singing. Something like offering my talent to others. If given the opportunity, I would like to help people experience love through opera.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
My favourite holiday destination is the Maldives. It was my honeymoon destination, and it is my wife’s favourite place in the world.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Unfortunately in Cologne there isn’t much I can recommend besides the Cologne Cathedral. After visiting the cathedral, I would take my friends straight to Switzerland. Its nature is, without question, the most breathtaking I have ever seen.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading a manga called Berserk. It has been serialised since I was in middle school. It goes far beyond a simple comic – it’s a true masterpiece. Sadly, the author passed away, but his disciples are continuing the series. It remains just as compelling.
What are you currently listening to?
I am listening to Wagner’s Götterdämmerung. I am preparing to perform it soon in Bayreuth, Paris, Dresden, Hamburg, and more, and we will be recording as well. I am deeply grateful and humbled, as I will be performing the role of Siegfried as the first Asian singer to do so.
Happiness is?
For me, happiness is gratitude. When you receive everything with gratitude, even the difficult things become something you don’t need to discard. And happiness comes to you—quietly, gently, yet powerfully.
What does the future hold for you?
I do not know what the future holds, but I am certain that I will be singing. Twenty years ago, I looked at the Sydney Opera House and dreamed that one day I would sing there. Now that the dream has come true, I am simply grateful.
Young Woo Kim stars as Calaf (15 January – 10 February) in Opera Australia’s production of Turandot – which plays in the Joan Sutherland Theatre – Sydney Opera House from 15 January to 27 March 2026. For more information, visit: www.opera.org.au for details.
Image: Young Woo Kim – photo by Teresa Rothwangl