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[Herald Economy — Reporter Ko Seung-hee] World-renowned composer Jin Eun-sook has been awarded the Daewon Music Award grand prize.
On May 14, the Daewon Cultural Foundation announced that the 14th Daewon Music Awards named Jin Eun-sook the grand-prize winner. Pianist Yekwon Sunwoo received the performance award, and violinist Seohyun Kim was chosen for the newcomer award.
Since Isang Yun, Jin has stood out as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary classical music worldwide. She has elevated Korea’s presence on the global stage by winning major honors, including the Grawemeyer Award, the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize (2024), and the BBVA Knowledge Frontier Award (2026). Jin currently serves as artistic director of the Tongyeong International Music Festival and has been active in expanding audiences for Korean classical music.
Pianist Yekwon Sunwoo became a leading figure in K-classical when he became the first Korean to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017. He has won eight international competitions overall. After his debut album topped Billboard’s Classical chart, he is preparing a Liszt album and a tour for 2026, demonstrating his artistic peak.
Violinist Seohyun Kim, only 17 years old, is already being hailed as a rising international star. In 2023 she became the youngest-ever winner of the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition, surprising the classical world. After collaborations with masters such as Gidon Kremer, she is set to make major debuts on leading stages—including Wigmore Hall—during the 2026–27 season.
This year’s winners were selected after a recommending panel of roughly 300 classical experts—musicians, critics and journalists—compiled candidates. A five-member jury, chaired by Professor Emerita Shin Su-jeong of Seoul National University, then conducted a rigorous final review. The grand prize carries a plaque and 100 million KRW (approximately $75,000); the performance and newcomer awards each include a plaque and 30 million KRW (approximately $22,500).
Established in 2006, the Daewon Music Award launched with conductor Myung-Whun Chung as its first grand-prize winner. Subsequent recipients include the Korea National University of Arts College of Music (2nd), pianist Kun-Woo Paik (3rd), Kang Dong-seok and the Seoul Spring Chamber Music Festival (4th), Hyo Kang and the Daegwallyeong International Music Festival (5th), the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (6th), soprano Sumi Jo (7th), violinist Kyung-Wha Chung (8th), bass Yeon Gwang-chul (9th), conductor Kim Min (10th), pianist–conductor Kim Dae-jin (11th), pianist Seong-Jin Cho (12th) and pianist Yeol-Eum Son (13th).
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