The international competition where only Koreans get prizes
OrchestrasThe results are in for the 2024 Seoul International Piano Competition, sponsored by LG.
All six prize winners are Korean.
We checked the results of the last competition, in 2020.
Guess what? All six prizewinners were Korean.
The ‘international’ judges on the jury, under a Korean chair, were no more than rubber-stamps.
Most piano competitions are rigged. This one looks more rigged than most.
And my goodness, not a female in the mix. The patriarchy! The racism!
We can’t judge how rigged this competition is, or was, without knowing how many non-Korean pianists entered and how well or poorly they played.
Sure, the competition’s title says “International” but I have flown out of my share of airports that were also called “International” without much basis other than civic pride. I have also eaten at the International House of Pancakes and the pancakes all looked pretty American to me.
Not surprised. Korea and Japan are two of the most xenophobic and misogynist countries on the planet. My friends from there also agree.
This is sadly true, especially among younger people, and recently also musicians. I live and work there since decades.
Economically progressive, though, and punching well above their weight. Both countries.
Well if “you’re friends from there” also agree then it’s settled
One of the dumbest things you can do is stick metal chopsticks into an electrical outlet, and the next dumbest thing you can do is enter the Seoul International Music Competition. Are there any non-Koreans who still enter here? Please, don’t even think about participating in this competition. You’re just throwing yourself into a fire. If you’re not Korean, you will never win. SERIOUSLY NEVER. It doesn’t matter if you’re Heifetz or Rachmaninoff. You will be eliminated in the preliminary round since you don’t have Korean nationality. This competition is completely Korean-only. Of course – Koreans are the slaughterers of international competitions around the world. I admit that Koreans are generally good. They are truly outstanding. BUT the Seoul International Music Competition is different. This is a place where xenophobia operates passively. Foreigners are just scapegoats to give it the title of ‘international’. Go to the competition website and look at the list of winners from the past 10 years. Not surprisingly, almost all of them are Korean. If something like this had happened in the Chopin International Competition or the Queen Elisabeth International Competition, World War III would have probably broken out. This is an obvious fact that all non-Korean contestants who have participated here at least once can agree on. Why prepare for a competition where the result is already determined? Don’t waste your efforts on this competition.
And what do we make of the judges?
Out of 10 judges, only two are Koreans. Why is it rigged?