Eligibility

The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities were born on or after December 2, 1993 and on or before December 1, 2007.

Application

Applications must be submitted online via the Seoul International Music Competition website (www.seoulcompetition.com) by Friday, August 30, 2024 at 11:59 pm KST at the latest.

Application will include uploads of:

(1) Application form
(2) Photocopy of passport (accepted formats – jpeg or pdf)
(3) Short biographical note in English (not more than half an A4 page)
(4) Portrait photograph of the applicant (electronic version 300-1200 dpi; accepted formats – jpeg, .bmp, .tif), suitable for publicity purposes, free of copyright
(5) Proof of payment of a non-refundable application fee of US $200 net of all bank charges into the Competition’s account:
Bank details:
Bank: Woori Bank
Branch: Chungjeongno Branch (29, Chungjeong-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03737, South Korea)
Account Number: 217-000987-13-011
Account Holder: The Dong-A Ilbo
Swift Code: HVBKKRSEXXX
(6) A high-quality unmodified video recording (audio and video)
The recording must be 30-40 minutes in duration and must include an Etude of the applicant’s own choice and one movement of a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven (piano solo works only). The works performed in the preselection video may be included in the programme for the public rounds of the Competition.

Upload Information
∙ All video files must be uploaded to the Google Drive and shared with us(seoulcompetition@donga.com). The video link(URL) must be copied and pasted in the field provided on the online application form.
∙ Links to Youtube or other platforms will not be accepted.
∙ The candidates must upload one file per movement in the case of sonatas and other works containing more than one movement. In the case of works composed of only one movement, they must upload only one file.
∙ In the application form, the candidate must provide information on the place and date of recording for each file, which must have been made after March 1, 2024. The videos may be recorded in different places and on different occasions.
∙ The video must be recorded from one camera angel which shows the face and hands from audience-view for the entire performance.
∙ Each work must be a continuous and unedited performance. Video editing is not allowed in any chance.
∙ The video data must not contain the name of the applicant in any form (neither image nor sound), as the preselection will be carried out anonymously.

Travel and Accommodation

Non-Korean competitors accepted to the Competition will be provided complimentary round-trip, economy-class travel to Seoul. In this case, competitors must use the airline tickets booked directly by the competition. Travel expenses within Korea are the responsibility of the competitors.

Also, Non-Korean competitors who are not residents in Korea will also be provided with free board and accommodation at designated lodgings from November 28, 2024 until the dates indicated below:

• First Round competitors until the morning after the First Round
• Second Round competitors until the morning after the Second Round
• Semifinalists until the morning after the Semifinal Round
• Finalists until the morning after the Final Round

All competitors are required to arrive in Seoul by November 29, 2024 to register with the Secretariat and to draw lots to decide the order of performance at the competition.

Visa

Competitors who receive an invitation to participate in the Competition and who live in non-visa waiver countries with Korea should contact their nearest Korean Consulate to obtain a Korean visa. The organizer will provide all necessary invitations; however, the organizer will not be responsible for obtaining visas and related costs and it is all candidate’s responsibility.

Practice

Non-Korean competitors who are not residents in Korea will be provided with practice facilities, which are free of charge, for three hours every day from two days before the 1st Round until the end of the competition. Each finalist will have two rehearsals with the orchestra (including a stage rehearsal) before the Final Round.

Scores

Candidates are expected to use the original scores of the works they perform. The Seoul International Music Competition will not be held responsible for any fraud that might be committed by candidates in this regard (such as the public use of illegal copies).

Drawing of Lots

The order of appearance will be determined by a random drawing on November 29, 2024 and will not change once it has been decided. However, for the Final Round only, changes may be made when necessary. On the day of performance, each competitor must be present at the Secretariat office located in the concert hall by the specified time. Those who are unable to perform when called upon to do so may be disqualified. However, if any competitor should be late for his/her performance due to unavoidable circumstances, the Jury may allow the competitor to perform at a different time, depending on how the competition is progressing.

Performance Rights

The competitors will be in contract exclusively with the Seoul International Music Competition during the competition period. All contacts with the media must be made through and with the approval of the Secretariat. The competitors will be required to be available for any media-related arrangements made by the Competition.
The Secretariat reserves the exclusive rights, without additional fees payable to the competitors and their accompanists, to:

1. Record audio or video and broadcast all the rounds of the competition including the rehearsals, Opening Ceremony, and Ceremony of Awards by any televised or radio broadcast means, including the Internet, cable networks, terrestrial or other broadcasting, live or pre-recorded, in Korea or abroad.
2. Record, reproduce and arrange for the reproduction of performances on CD, SACD, sound track, audio cassette, video cassette, video disc or CD-ROM/CDI, DVD, minidisk, or any other existing or future medium.
3. Arrange agreements with other parties regarding the Competition materials mentioned above.

Judgment

1. Preliminary Round

Once the selection has been made, the decision of the pre-selection jury on admission to the competition will be released by September 13 at the latest. Its decisions are final and incontestable. No explanations will be provided.

2. Public Rounds

The competition performances will be open to the public and consist of four rounds.

(1) A point system will be used by the Jury for adjudication. Each juror will judge and mark the performances of all competitors but abstain from judging/marking the competitors who were his/her own students for more than three months in the previous two years.
(2) The decisions of the Jury are final and are not subject to appeal.
(3) Competitors may not exchange opinions with any member of the Jury at any time during the competition on subjects that may influence the judging. There are no exceptions to this rule and any competitor who fails to comply will be disqualified, and additionally, any judge who fails to comply with the rule will jeopardize his/her own status in the competition.

Prizes

The following main prizes will be awarded to the top six finalists:

• 1st Prize US $50,000
• 2nd Prize US $30,000
• 3rd Prize US $20,000
• 4th Prize US $10,000
• 5th Prize US $7,000
• 6th Prize US $5,000

Independently of the prizes listed above, the following special prize may be awarded:

• Best performance of a Beethoven Sonata US $ 5,000
(1) The decision to award the main prizes and special prize will be made by the Competition Jury. The Jury will have the right not to award individual main prizes or special prize.
(2) In case of a tie, the prize money of the prize won and that of the next prize in the ranking will be added up and distributed equally.
(3) Special Prize that is endowed by Honorary Professor Soo Jung Shin, former jury of Seoul International Music Competition, will be awarded to the best performance of a Beethoven Sonata.
(4) Taxes will be deducted from the prize money according to Korean tax laws.

Further Engagements

Professional engagements will be arranged for the prize winners. These may include concerts, recitals and recordings of CDs or DVDs. The First Prize winner and other selected prize winners will be required to perform for these engagements. For such engagements, round-trip airfare as well as room and board for a maximum of 7 days will be provided by the Secretariat. No performance-related fees will be paid to the performer.

Interpretation of the rules and conditions

Should any dispute arise regarding the interpretation of any part of the regulations and conditions of the Seoul International Music Competition 2024, the regulations and conditions written in Korean, and the related laws and codes of the Republic of Korea will form the only legal basis on which to resolve the matter. All decisions made by the Secretariat, the Management Committee, and the Jury will be final and not subject to appeal.