Park Sung-yeon: The Godmother Who Opened Korea’s First Jazz Club
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Park Sung-yeon (1943–2020), celebrated as the ‘godmother of Korean jazz,’ was the first Korean woman jazz vocalist and founded Club Janus in 1978 in Sinchon — the first jazz club run by a Korean in a country where jazz was a niche genre. Born in Seoul, she started singing at US military bases and later opened Club Janus to give Korean jazz musicians a stage amid the dominance of trot and popular songs. The club moved through neighborhoods like Daehangno, Cheongdam-dong, and Apgujeong, becoming a cradle for Korea’s jazz scene; Park even sold parts of her 1,500-record collection to keep it running. Club Janus reopened this September in Gwanghwamun and will host special performances in December, featuring artists such as Jeong Mi-jo and Lee Hee-moon. (Club Janus: landmark Korean jazz club)
