Park Yoonjae Rewrites Korean Ballerino History... Wins Lausanne Ballet Competition (Comprehensive)

"The Stage I've Dreamed of Since I Was Five... I Can't Believe It"

Park Yoonjae (Seoul Arts High School) became the first Korean male dancer to win the Prix de Lausanne, one of the world's top five ballet competitions held in Lausanne, Switzerland. On the 8th (local time), at the Prix de Lausanne finals held in Lausanne, Switzerland, he received the highest scores for the classical ballet 'Flames of Paris' and the contemporary ballet 'Rain.' This is the first time a Korean male ballet dancer has reached the top in this competition. Including ballerinas, he is the third Korean to win, following Kang Suejin in 1985 and Park Se-eun in 2007.

EPA Yonhap News

Sixteen-year-old Park Yoonjae first stood out while attending the Korea National University of Arts Gifted Education Center, affiliated with the Korea National University of Arts, during elementary school. He graduated from Kaywon Arts Middle School and is currently enrolled at Seoul Arts High School. Having also received the 'Best Young Talent Award' on the same day, he said, "It is an honor just to be on the dream stage of the Prix de Lausanne, which I have dreamed of since I started ballet at the age of five, and I am happy and cannot believe that I received such a great award in the finals."

Now in its 53rd year, the Prix de Lausanne is considered one of the world's top five ballet competitions alongside the Varna, Jackson, Moscow, and Paris competitions. Only students aged between fifteen and eighteen can participate, making it a gateway for dancers. Winners can join affiliated overseas ballet companies or ballet schools. Among Korean dancers, Kang Suejin and Park Se-eun, as well as Seo Hee in 2003, ballerina Yoon Seo-jung in 2021, ballerina Park Hanna and ballet dancer Lee Junsu in 2018, have won awards. This year, alongside Park Yoonjae, ballerina Kim Bokyung (Busan Arts High School) placed 8th.