2023 saw a number of South Korean performers take the world by storm in classical music as well as literature and art.

Pianist Cho Seong-jin was chosen this year to become the Berlin Philharmonic's first-ever South Korean artist-in-residence in 2024, becoming the second Asian artist to claim the honor after Japanese pianist Mitsuko Uchida.

Baritone Kim Tae-han won the Queen Elisabeth Competition for voice in June to become the first Asian male singer to grab the coveted classical music contest in Belgium.

Also in June, South Koreans won first prizes in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in the categories of violin, cello and voice.

Kim Gye-hee and Lee Young-eun grabbed the gold medals in violin and cello, respectively, while tenor Son Ji-hoon was named the winner of the men’s voice category.

In August, conductor Yoon Han-kyeol became the first South Korean to win the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award, one of the most prestigious prizes for young conductors.

In the dance world, Kang Mi-sun seized the best female dancer award at the Benois de la Danse to become the fifth South Korean to win the award after Kang Sue-jin, Kim Joo-won, Kim Ki-min and Park Sae-eun.

Meanwhile, author Han Kang won the prestigious Prix Médicis award with her novel "I Do Not Bid Farewell” in November and author Baek Heena's picture book "Magic Candies" won the SuperPremio Andersen 2023, a top prize from Italy's most prestigious children's book awards.

Photo : YONHAP News

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