11-year-old Lee Se-na takes Korea’s top finish at Yi Hwang finals

Lee Se-na records 2nd place in Junior division as youngest participant

The 2026 Yi Hwang International Music Competition, held over two days from the 10th to the 11th at the Icheon Art Hall in Gyeonggi-do, has come to a close. This competition was co-hosted by the Yi Hwang International Music Competition headquarters and the Korea National University of Arts.

In the Junior division of this competition, 11-year-old violinist Lee Se-na took 2nd place. Lee was the youngest participant in the entire competition and achieved the highest result among the Korean contestants.

First place in the Junior division was awarded to China's Jin Ya-ran (13). Following 2nd-place Lee Se-na, China's Shen Weixian (12) and America's Sun Jacob (13) tied for 3rd place. First-place winner Jin Ya-ran was awarded 1,000 euros and a violin bow as prizes.

Senior division winner Nam Christina earns opportunity to perform with Prime Philharmonic

In the Senior division, performers from the United States, Japan, and Belgium secured the top spots. Nam Christina (24) from the United States took 1st place, followed by Nakatani Tetsutaro (17, Japan) in 2nd, and Chikoshi Vilmos (30, Belgium) in 3rd.

The Senior division winner, Nam Christina, receives 5,000 euros along with a one-year free loan of a violin from the British string instrument specialist Florian Leonhardt. Additionally, she is granted the opportunity to perform with the world-renowned Prime Philharmonic Orchestra.

This competition marks the first time in the history of the Yi Hwang International Music Competition, which originated in Belgium, that the finals have been held in Korea.