The First Prize winner is required to perform as a soloist with the Hankyung Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Seok won Hong, in “The Classic 2027 Series 1” at Lotte Concert Hall on March 29, 2027. This concert will also serve as the 2027 Seoul International Music Competition Laureates’ Concert. The soloist must perform the same piano concerto that they performed in the Final Round. If no First Prize is awarded, the Hankyung Philharmonic Orchestra will select one finalist as the soloist, who will be subject to the same performance obligations and repertoire requirements.

Seokwon Hong, Principal Guest Conductor of the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, has established himself as a leading figure in the Korean music scene, praised as a ‘young master’ for his ability to encompass not only the traditional orchestral repertoire but also opera, ballet, and contemporary music. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Composition(Conducting) from Seoul National University, Hong completed both the Diplom program in Conducting and the Konzertexamen at the Berlin University of the Arts. He was selected as one of the “Maestros of the Future” by the German Music Council, won 3rd prize at the Karajan Centenary Conducting Competition, and served as Kapellmeister at the Tyrolean State Theatre in Innsbruck, Austria. He made a successful stage debut by conducting Johann Strauss’s operetta Die Fledermaus, a work cherished by Austrians as both a national favorite and a source of cultural pride. Tiroler Tageszeitung, the leading newspaper of Tyrol, praised the performance, saying, “Fantastic music! Conductor Seokwon Hong made the entire audience dance,” while the European opera magazine Merker highly acclaimed him, stating, “Conductor Seokwon Hong brought the orchestra to the most ideal Strauss sound.”
In Korea as well, he has worked steadily with the Korea National Opera, leading major productions such as the PyeongChang Olympic commemorative operas Lady Camellia and La Traviata; Manon, which drew attention in 2020 as the world’s 1st full-length opera production of the COVID era; Nabucco, presented to mark the reopening of the National Theater of Korea; and the Korean premiere of Verdi’s I vespri siciliani. In these productions, he fully demonstrated the artistry he had shown on the European stage. In 2023, he led the Korean National Symphony Orchestra in performances abroad, and in 2024, he successfully concluded “Tcheo Yong”, a commemorative performance marking the Paris 2024 Olympics by Korea’s national performing arts organizations—the Korea National Opera, Korean National Symphony Orchestra, and the National Chorus of Korea—earning high acclaim overseas as well.
After serving as Music Director of the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic, he went on to serve as an Artistic Director of the Gwangju Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure, he released the album 《Beethoven, Isang Yun, Barber》 with pianist Yunchan Lim on the Deutsche Grammophon label, led the Korean premiere of Shostakovich’s Symphony No.13, Babi Yar, as well as an invited overseas performance in Texas, USA, and received much acclaim at the Symphony Festival. In particular, he was praised for having sparked a wave of enthusiasm for classical music in Gwangju, drawing a strong response from the city’s citizens.
Since September 2025, Conductor Seokwon Hong has been serving as Professor of Conducting in the Department of Composition at the College of Music, Seoul National University.

Founded in 2015 under the auspices of the Hankyung Media Group, the Hankyung arte Philharmonic made its debut with a clear vision: A Bridge Between Culture and Economy.
With the baton in the hands of Nanse Gum as its inaugural music director, the Hankyung arte Philharmonic quickly made waves. The orchestra gained national recognition for its excellent performances with seasoned conductors such as Heonjeong Lim, Deokgi Kim, and Daejin Kim, and for showcasing the young talents of internationally acclaimed conductors, including Jakyung Yeo, Byungwook Lee, Kwanghyun Kim, and Joongbae Jee.
The orchestra’s commitment transcends the concert hall, resonating throughout the community with their harmonious melodies. Since 2016, the Youth Cultural Love Day tour has been instrumental in nurturing cultural sensibilities among the youth in less-privileged areas. Hankyung arte Philharmonic’s calendar is a tapestry of heartwarming performances, including those celebrating the New Year, Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), Lunar New Year, and honoring veterans. Notable collaborations of 2018 include a joint performance with the renowned I Musici and a heartfelt rendition of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy with a 180-strong citizen choir, showcasing the power of community. The arrival of Seokwon Hong in 2019 as the second music director marked a new epoch with acclaimed performances like Mahler’s Symphony No.1, Titan.
Despite the global sweep of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Hankyung arte Philharmonic never ceased to innovate. The orchestra performed the entirety of Beethoven’s Egmont with actor Lee Junggil via online streaming, and won the Minister of Education Award for its Textbook Concert, which recorded live performances of classical music from textbooks. In 2021, it presented a nationwide opera tour with the National Opera of Korea, and in 2022, staged a seasonal program, the Leading Musicians of Korea Series, and premiered the ballet The Bride of Korea, commemorating the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Austria, to great success.
In 2023, the orchestra successfully held more than 60 regular concerts, including The Classics 2023 series, and presented a diverse and elegant stage with acclaimed conductors leading the Korean classical world. That year also saw the notable addition of Wilson Ng as a guest conductor, bringing fresh perspectives and further enriching the orchestra’s artistic direction. In addition, Romeo and Juliet, presented in October in collaboration with the Monte Carlo Ballet, is considered to have opened new horizons in contemporary dance. In December, the orchestra performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Choral, conducted by Seungwon Lee, and delivered a deeply moving and hopeful message to the audience. At the end of the year, the orchestra also appointed Wilson Ng as its principal guest conductor.
In 2024, the orchestra will present a variety of musical colors and depths at Lotte Concert Hall and Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall through ‘The Classics 2024’ series, having planned and successfully performed collaborations with renowned domestic and international performers such as Daniel Ottenzamer, Kunwoo Paik, and Minsoo Sohn. This year, the orchestra is garnering significant international attention through invitational participation in the Hong Kong Arts Festival and collaboration with the La Scala Ballet in March, and distinguished engagement in the Fukuyama International Music Festival in Japan in May. On April 10, the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic made its debut at the Korean Orchestra Festival, conducted by Wilson Ng and featuring the Esmé Quartet. The concert was greeted with a standing ovation and received rave reviews for its repertoire and performance. In May, the orchestra will perform all of Brahms’s symphonies over two days with Yoon Hankyeol, the first Korean winner of the Karajan Young Conductor Award.
Through their constant innovation and creative endeavors, as Korea’s premier orchestra, the Hankyung arte Philharmonic plays a pivotal role in leading the Korean classical music scene, and their efforts to inspire and provide new cultural experiences through music continue.