Winner Roh Hyunjin (left in top row) is shown with the other finalists of the International Paderewski Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz, Poland. (Competition's official website)

By Koh Hyunjeong

Roh Hyunjin has won this year's International Paderewski Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The event's official website on Nov. 24 said Roh captured first place in the final with her performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, aka the "Emperor" Concerto, earning rave reviews from the judges. Her prize money was EUR 30,000 (approximately KRW 51 million).

Kim Jiyoung placed fourth in this competition. Second went to Italy's Elia Cecchino and third to Taiwan's Lin Pin-hong.

Debuting in 2014 with the Kumho Young Artist Concert series, Roh graduated from Seoul National University's College of Music and is pursuing a master's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

Launched in 1961, the competition honors Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the first prime minister of Poland who was a pianist and composer, and highlights promising young pianists ages 18-32.

Roh is the third Korean winner of this event, following Moon Ji-young in 2013 and Lee Hyuk in 2016.

hjkoh@korea.kr