Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
Pianist Lee Hyuk wins France's Animato international piano competition
Pianist Lee Hyuk, third from left, smiles after receiving the first prize at the Concours International de Piano ― Grand Prix Animato Chopin 2021 in Paris, France, Tuesday, in this photo released on Thursday (CET). Courtesy of Philippe Breulles
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Korean pianist Lee Hyuk, a finalist in the Chopin international competition this year, has won the first prize at the Concours International de Piano ― Grand Prix Animato Chopin 2021, held between Dec. 3 and 7, its organization said, Thursday (CET).
In the final, where six contenders were able to compete with works of Chopin, including Lee, he played the Fantaisie, Op. 49.
He will be receiving the prize money of 30,000 euro (39.9 million won) from Animato, the association which organized the competition, run under the slogan, “Tomorrow's great pianists, today,” and be invited to join recitals and concerts organized by the group.
Lee debuted at the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2012. In 2018, he won third prize at the Hamamatsu Piano Competition, the second prize at the Poshan Chopin International Piano Competition and the first prize at the 2nd Kiev International Piano Competition. He also won first prize at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski International Piano Competition in 2016.
He was the fifth Korean finalist following Lim Dong-min and Lim Dong-hyuk (third Prize ex aequo in 2005), Son Yeol-eum (2005) and Cho Seon-jin (first prize in 2015). Up to 14 Korean pianists made it to the preliminary round and seven were able to go on to the main competition.