Ballerino Jeon Min-chul wins top prize at ‘Youth America Grand Prix’
Ballerino Jeon Min-chul / Courtesy of Universal Ballet Company
Ballerino Jeon Min-chul won the top prize at the 2025 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) on Sunday.
Competing in the senior men's division during the finals held from April 21 to 27, Jeon performed Albrecht’s variation from "Giselle" and received the grand prize, awarded to the most outstanding performer across all divisions and age groups in Tampa, Florida.
He is the fifth Korean dancer in history to win the grand prize. Previous Korean winners include Seo Hee, principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre in 2003; Kim Ki-min, principal dancer at the Mariinsky Ballet in 2012; Jun Joon-hyuk, soloist at the Royal Ballet in 2016; and Park Geon-hee from the Korea National University of Arts last year.
Jeon, 20, currently enrolled in the practical dance program at the Korea National University of Arts, is preparing to join the Mariinsky Ballet in Russia.
His classmates Seong Jae-seung and So Ha-eun also won first place in the pas de deux category at this year's competition, while Seong placed second in the senior men's solo division.
Jeon, known for his elegant lines and long limbs, is set to make his full-length debut as a lead in "La Bayadere."
Jeon Min-cheol, who will make his full-length lead debut in "La Bayadere," showcases elegant lines with his long limbs. Courtesy of Universal Ballet Company
Founded in 2000, the YAGP is one of the world’s largest ballet competitions, considered a gateway for young dancers. Open to participants aged 9 to 20, the competition is divided into pre-competitive (ages 9–11), junior (ages 12–14) and senior (ages 15–20) divisions.
This year, about 12,000 dancers competed worldwide, with around 2,000 advancing to the finals from 41 countries.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.