World-renowned pianist Lim Yun-chan, 21, who currently resides in the United States, has sparked widespread public discussion after his candid remarks about his traumatic student years in Korea resurfaced from a recent interview. The young virtuoso described his final years of study in Korea as "hellish" and revealed that the intense pressure once made him contemplate suicide.
In an interview published on August 22 by Italian daily La Repubblica, conducted ahead of his performance at Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Lim spoke openly about his painful experiences within Korea's high-pressure education system. When asked whether he missed Korea while living abroad, he gave a stark response: "No. My final years of study in Korea were extremely painful. It felt like being in hell, and at times I wanted to die." He added that he now returns to Korea "only when I have concerts."
Lim identified Korea's fierce competitive culture as the primary source of his suffering during those formative years. "Korea is small and densely populated, so competition is fierce. Everyone wants to get ahead, and sometimes that leads people to hurt others," he explained. The pressure intensified as his talent gained recognition, with unwanted attention from various sectors of society adding to his burden.
"When I began to gain recognition around the age of 17, even politicians and businessmen put unnecessary pressure on me," Lim recalled. "It made me deeply unhappy." This external pressure, combined with the already intense academic and musical demands, created an environment that the young pianist found unbearable.
Lim's honest revelations have resonated strongly with Korean internet users, who expressed widespread sympathy and understanding for his experiences. Social media comments reflected the nation's awareness of its own competitive culture, with users writing: "People here really do get jealous easily," and "The competition is brutal, especially during school years – even among parents." Others described Korean society as one "where everyone chokes one another and refuses to let go," sparking renewed debate about the country's entrenched culture of over-competition.
Despite his difficult experiences in Korea, Lim has found a supportive environment for his continued musical development in the United States. He currently lives in Boston, where he studies at the prestigious New England Conservatory under the guidance of his longtime mentor, pianist Sohn Min-soo. His teacher, who previously taught at the Korea National University of Arts, moved to Boston in 2023, allowing their successful partnership to continue.
Born in 2002, Lim's musical journey began at the age of seven when he first started playing piano. He demonstrated exceptional talent early on, graduating at the top of his class from Yewon School before entering the Korea National University of Arts. His international breakthrough came in 2019 when he won the Isang Yun International Piano Competition, establishing him as a rising star in the classical music world.
Lim made history in 2022 when he became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at just 18 years old. This remarkable achievement catapulted him to global recognition and opened doors to performance opportunities at the world's most prestigious venues.
His success has continued to flourish internationally, with his recording "Chopin: Études," released last year, achieving unprecedented recognition. The album swept three major categories at the BBC Music Magazine Awards in April – Recording of the Year, Instrumental Award, and Newcomer Award – marking the first time in the event's history that a single album had won in all three categories. Additionally, at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards ceremony in London on October 2, 2024, Lim was honored with both the Piano Award trophy and the Young Artist Award trophy, further cementing his status as one of classical music's brightest young talents.
