Isangyun Competition

The application deadline is 31 July 2026, with results announced on 28 August. Selected participants will complete registration and draw lots to determine performance order on 31 October. The First and Second Rounds will take place on 1–2 November and 4–5 November, respectively. The Final Round with orchestra and the Awards Ceremony will be held on 7 November, and the Winners’ Concert will take place in Busan Concert Hall in Busan on 8 November.

1) International flights: International participants regardless of their nationality, may apply for free round-trip international flights to attend the Competition. In this case, participants shall use the airline tickets booked directly by the competition. 

2) Transportation in Korea: Travel expenses within Korea are the responsibility of the participants. 

3)Accommodation & Meals: Participants will be provided with free accommodation and board, from 30 October 2026 until the end of their active participation in the Competition. 

4) VISA: Foreign nationals requiring a visa in order to enter the Republic of Korea will be provided with the necessary documents upon passing the Preliminary Round. 

All rules and conditions for the 2026 piano edition of the Isangyun Competition are available through this link.

Contact:

• Tel: (+82) 55-650-0400
• E-mail: competition@timf.org 

Total KRW 74,000,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.

First Prize KRW 30,000,000
Second Prize KRW 20,000,000
Third Prize KRW 10,000,000
Fourth Prize KRW 5,000,000

Isang Yun Special Prize KRW 5,000,000
Seong-Yawng Park Special Prize KRW 2,000,000
UNESCO City of Music Special Prize KRW 2,000,000

The Isang Yun Special Prize is awarded for the best interpretation of the work “Interludium A(1982)” in the Second Round.

The Seong-Yawng Park Special Prize is awarded for an exceptionally talented young Korean participant.

The UNESCO City of Music Special Prize is an audience award, and the participant with the majority of votes will receive this award.

All prize winners agree to perform at the Winners’ Concert at Busan Concert Hall on 8 November 2026.

When requested within the next three years, prize winners shall perform at Tongyeong Concert Hall, or at other concerts managed by the Tongyeong International Music Foundation

The First Prize winner will be given an opportunity to perform at the ‘Orchestra Festival’ hosted by the Seoul Arts Center and ‘Music in PyeongChang’ organized by Gangwon Art & Culture Foundation.

Winners will be given opportunities to perform with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gwangju Symphony Orchestra and the Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra.

The winner of the Seong-Yawng Park Special Prize will be given an opportunity to perform a recital organized by Kumho Cultural Foundation.

All repertoire must be performed from memory, except for works composed after 1950.

The work presented in the Preliminary Round cannot be performed in the First, Second, and Final Rounds.

Time limits will be strictly enforced.

Preliminary Round (25-30 minutes, video selection)

Applicants must submit the video recordings of a) and b):
a) F. Chopin: One Etude
b) Solo work(s) of the applicant’s choice (within the time limit above; not all movements are mandatory)

First Round (35-40 minutes)

Each candidate will be required to perform a), b), and c):
a) One complete sonata by W. A. Mozart, J. Haydn or L. v. Beethoven
b) Isang Yun: Fünf Stücke für Klavier (1958) or Shao Yang Yin für Klavier (1966)
c) Solo work(s) of the candidate’s choice (within the time limit above; not all movements are mandatory)

Second Round (45-50 minutes)

Each candidate will be required to perform a) and b):
a) Isang Yun: Interludium A für Klavier (1982) or other composers’ solo work written after 1950 with a minimum duration of 10 minutes
b) Solo work(s) of the candidate’s choice (all movements are mandatory)
- One important work with a minimum duration of 15 minutes
- Optional solo work(s), if a) and b) do not reach the duration of 45 - 50 minutes

Final Round

Each finalist shall perform one concerto with orchestra to be chosen from the following:
L. v. Beethoven Piano: Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
L. v. Beethoven Piano: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
J. Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
S. Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
S. Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
R. Schumann Piano: Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
P. I. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23