Pianist Cho Seong-jin has become the first South Korean winner of the renowned International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition.
 
The Fryderyk Chopin Institute said Tuesday that Cho won the final round of auditions, which were held for three days ending Tuesday in Warsaw.
 
Cho, who debuted in 2005 when he was eleven, became the youngest winner of the Moscow International F. Chopin Competition for Young Pianists in 2008 and placed third at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition last year.
 
The Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, which began in 1927 in honor of the Polish composer and pianist, is one of the top piano events in the world, along with Russia's International Tchaikovsky Competition and Belgium's Queen Elisabeth Competition. It is held every five years.
 
Award winners will hold concerts in Europe and Asia through next year. A gala concert of the awardees will be held at the Seoul Arts Center on February 2.