A South Korean pianist has won first prize at the second International Beethoven Competition for Piano in the German city of Bonn.

As the first-prize winner, Yoo Yung-wook will have a CD of his work produced under the Naxos label. He will also receive a cash prize of 30-thousand euros.

The pianist, a doctoral student at the Manhattan School of Music, had previously studied at New York's Juilliard School.

Yoo had also taken top honors at the 13th Santander International Piano Competition in 1998.