ORGANIZATION

The Dong-A Ilbo will set up the Management Committee and Secretariat for the operation of the Competition. The Competition Jury will be organized by the Management Committee and will consist of musicians of prominent standing from Korea and abroad.

APPLICATION

1. ELIGIBILITY

The competition is open, regardless of nationality, to:
· All male singers born between March 16, 1990 and March 15, 2008
· All female singers born between March 16, 1993 and March 15, 2008.

2. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Application must be submitted online via the Seoul International Music Competition website (www.seoulcompetition.com) no later than 11:59pm KST on 23 January, 2026.

Application must 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) including one art song and two opera arias in two different languages.
· The language for art song and opera aria may be repeated.
· Works performed in the preselection video may be repeated in the public rounds of the Competition.

Upload Information

• All video files must be uploaded to the Google Drive and shared with us (donga@seoulcompetition.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.
• Each piece must be uploaded as a separate file.
• In the application form, the candidate must provide the place and date of recording for each file, which must have been made after 23 July, 2025. Videos may be recorded in different locations and on different occasions.
• The video must be recorded from one camera angle showing the candidate’s face and chest from an audience-view for the entire performance. Microphones should be positioned at a distance that ensures good sound quality.
• Each work must be a continuous, unedited performance. Video editing is strictly prohibited.
• The video must not contain the applicant’s name in any form (neither image nor sound), as the preselection will be carried out anonymously.
• Video files may be excluded from judgment if they do not meet the requirements above.

3. ADDRESS FOR APPLICATIONS

Secretariat of Seoul International Music Competition
16Fl., The Dong-A Ilbo Bldg.
29, Chungjeongno, Seodaemun-gu
Seoul 03737, South Korea

• Tel 82-2-361-1412
• Fax 82-2-2020-1639
• E-mail donga@seoulcompetition.com
• Website www.seoulcompetition.com

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

Travel expenses are the sole responsibility of the competitors. However, non-Korean competitors who do not reside in Korea will be provided with financial aid toward their international airfare: US $500 for those coming from Asia and US $1,000 for those coming from other continents. Taxes will be deducted in accordance with Korean tax laws (approximately 22%).

Non-Korean competitors not residing in Korea will be provided with free board and accommodation at designated lodgings from 12 March, 2026 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 must arrive in Seoul no later than 13 March, 2026 to complete registration and participate in the drawing of lots.

VISA

Competitors invited to participate who live in countries without a visa-waiver agreement with Korea must contact their nearest Korean Consulate to obtain a visa. The organizer will provide the necessary invitation, but will not be responsible for obtaining visas or covering related costs. All visa arrangements are the responsibility of the candidate.

PRACTICE

Non-Korean competitors not residing in Korea will be provided with practice facilities free of charge for one hour per day, from two days before the First Round until the end of the Competition. Non-Korean competitors who are not residents in Korea without their own pianists will also be provided with an official accompanist and may rehearse within the allotted practice hours as follows:

· One session before the First Round
· one session before the Second Round
· one session before the Semifinal Round

For organizational reasons, accompanists may differ between rounds. Each finalist will rehearse with the orchestra before the Final Round.

SCORES

Candidates must use original scores of the works they perform. The Competition will not be responsible for any fraudulent use of illegal copies. Candidates must provide copies of the scores for the organizers and official accompanist(s). If the orchestral material is not available in time for the Final Round, the organizers may ask the candidate to perform another work from his/her repertoire.

ORDER OF PERFORMANCE

The order of appearance will be determined by a random drawing on 13 March, 2026 and will not change once it has been decided. However, for the Final Round only, changes may be made for organizational reasons. On the day of performance, competitors must be present at the Secretariat office by the specified time. Competitors who fail to appear in their assigned order may be disqualified, except in unavoidable circumstances, in which case the Jury may allow a rescheduled performance depending on the competition schedule.

PERFORMANCE RIGHTS

The competitors will be under exclusive contract with the Competition during the competition period. All media contact must be handled through the Secretariat. Competitors must be available for media-related arrangements.

The Secretariat reserves exclusive rights, without additional fees, to:

1. Record, broadcast, and distribute all rounds, including rehearsals, ceremonies, and performances, through any media (television, radio, Internet, cable, terrestrial, live or pre-recorded, in Korea and abroad).
2. Record and reproduce performances on any existing or future medium (CD, SACD, DVD, Blu-ray, digital formats, etc.).
3. Enter agreements with third parties regarding these materials.

JUDGMENT

1. PRELIMINARY ROUND

Results of the preselection will be announced no later than 6 February 2026. Decisions are final and not subject to appeal. No explanations will be provided.

2. PUBLIC ROUNDS

The competition consists of four public rounds.

1) A point system will be used. Jurors must abstain from voting on competitors they have taught for more than three months within the past two years, will teach in the immediate future, or with whom they have a family relationship.
2) The decisions of the Jury are final and not subject to appeal.
3) Competitors may not discuss judging-related matters with Jury members at any time. Violations may result in disqualification. Jury members violating this rule may jeopardize their status.

RRIZES AND ENGAGEMENTS

1. PRIZES

The following main prizes will be awarded:

• 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
• Sun Nam Kim Special Prize US $ 5,000
1) The Jury reserves the right to withhold any prize.
2) In case of a tie, the prize money for the tied categories and the next prize will be combined and divided equally. In this case, the next prize will not be awarded.
3) Taxes will be deducted according to Korean tax laws.
4) The Sun Nam Kim Special Prize will be awarded to the best performer of Korean art song in the Semifinal Round.

2. LAUREATES' CONCERTS AND RECORDINGS

Professional engagements, including concerts, recitals and recordings, will be arranged for prize winners. The First Prize winner and selected prize winners will be required to participate. Round-trip airfare and room and board for up to seven days will be provided. No performance fees will be paid.

INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES AND CONDITIONS

In the event of any dispute regarding interpretation of the regulations and conditions of the 2026 Seoul International Music Competition, the Korean-language regulations and the laws of the Republic of Korea shall prevail. All decisions made by the Secretariat, Management Committee, and Jury are final and not subject to appeal.