Pianist Cho Seong-jin dazzles country of 'Chopin'

A South Korean Chopin competition winner has charmed concertgoers in the famous composer's home country of Poland.

Cho Seong-jin, who won the prestigious 17th international Frederic Chopin piano competition in October, visited the country four months later. His visit coincided with the 206th anniversary of Chopin's birthday.

In the concert, held in the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall on Tuesday and attended by a thousand classical music lovers, tickets were sold out early on and some of the attendees, who couldn't reserve a seat, stood to watch the performance. The concert finished in a burst of applause and fans gave him a standing ovation. Afterward around 600 fans waited in line to get his autograph, according to the Korean council in Poland.

The next day around 120 people attended a photo exhibition showing Cho's performances during the October competition.

Hong Ji-in, Korean ambassador to Poland, opened the exhibition by saying, "March 1 is very meaningful as the day marks Chopin's birthday and Korea's Independence Day."

"There are many things in common between the two culturally rich countries, and I believe Cho's victory was meant to be," the ambassador said. "The two countries can deepen their bilateral relations through Cho." (Yonhap)