Koo Jaha, Alumnus of the School of Drama, Wins International Ibsen Award

Koo Jaha (42), an alumnus of the School of Drama at K-Arts and a creator working across documentary theatre, composition, and video art, has been named the winner of the International Ibsen Award. Named after Henrik Ibsen, the pioneering Norwegian playwright often described as the father of modern drama, the biennial Ibsen Award is regarded as the Nobel Prize of Theater. It honors individuals or groups who have opened new horizons in the field of theatre worldwide.

On Ibsen’s birthday, the Norwegian government announced Koo Jaha as this year’s recipient, making him both the youngest and the first Asian ever to receive the award. Jury Chair Ingrid Lorentzen, Artistic Director of the Norwegian National Ballet, praised his work, commenting, “Koo Jaha’s theatre is tranquil, yet carries profound political messages. His works, navigating through ideological noise, speak directly to the human experience we all share.”

Before studying theatre at K-Arts, Koo began his artistic journey as an electronic music composer and DJ. He later earned a master’s degree in Contemporary Theater Direction from the Amsterdam University of the Arts in the Netherlands. Since 2011, he has been based in Ghent, Belgium, creating multidisciplinary works that fuse theatre, music, video and technology. Koo has received international recognition at major performing arts festivals across Europe and Asia for his distinctive creative voice.