Korean Pianist Kim Sun-wook

A Korean musical prodigy who received only domestic training has surprised the musical world. At just 18 years old, Kim Sun-wook, a student of Korean National University of Arts, has become the first Asian musician to win the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition.

Kim Sun-wook began playing the piano when he was three years old after pestering his parents for piano lessons. At elementary school, Kim Sun-wook idolised the pianist and conductor Chung Myung-whun and collected his albums. Since the age of eight he has wanted to become a pianist or conductor. The Korean piano prodigy skipped high school to enter the Korean National University of Arts directly after middle school.

Kim Sunwook is the first Korean pianist, and the youngest since the very first winner, Michael Roll in 1963, to win the final of this major competition.

Other Koreans have been placed in the finals, including Chung Myung-whun (1975, fourth), Seo Joo-hee (1984, second), and Paik Hae-sun (1990, fifth), but this is the first time a Korean has won first place at 'Leeds'.

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