Hong Sung-hoon is Korea's only accredited orgelbaumeister, the master builder of pipe organs. He learned the art of pipe organ construction in Germany as an apprentice of world-renowned Johannes Klais Orgelbau.



While he was in the orgelbau program, he learned a lot about the role of an orgelbaumeister from assisting the construction, repair, and maintenance of pipe organs in majestic cathedrals. He returned to Korea in 1997 after training at Klais for seven years and earning an orgelbaumeister license.

He survived a period of nationwide financial crisis before finally getting a chance to practice his skill as an organ builder. His first pipe organ was built in 2001 for a church in Seoul and from then on he began to incorporate Korean features and express Korean sentiments in his pipe organs. The results were one-of-a-kind pipe organs infused with Korean characteristics.

His ambitions continue to grow today, as he plans to build a pipe organ featuring Korean royal symbols.