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‘Violin Prodigy’ Yeonah Kim and KG Philharmonic Orchestra to Grace First Day with Welcoming Gala

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Youngest-Ever Sweep of Major Competitions by 12-Year-Old

Promising New Orchestra Joins in Melodic Collaboration

[By Jeong-yoon Lee, Edaily] The opening night of the 17th EDaily Strategy Forum (ESF 2026) will be illuminated by 12-year-old violin prodigy Yeonah Kim and the KG Philharmonic Orchestra. The collaboration between one of Korea‘s most promising young musician and a rising orchestra is set to mark a memorable opening to the forum.

17th Edaily Strategy forum is expected to be held from June 16 to 17 at the Dynasty Hall of The Shilla Seoul, anchoring the overarching theme: “The Age of Power, Recasting Civilization : Who Designs the New World?” The Welcome Gala takes center stage on the evening of June 16 with Yeonah Kim and the KG Philharmonic Orchestra, setting an inspiring tone for the days ahead.

Yeonah Kim began her violin journey at the tender age of five and has emerged as one of the most promising young talents on both domestic and international stages. In 2024, a video of her impromptu performance with renowned French pianist Julien Cohen at an airport in Rome, Italy, shattered more than 200 million views on YouTube, bringing her global recognition. Her rendition of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons was widely praised as a powerful demonstration of music‘s ability to transcend borders and language barriers.

Her competition record is equally impressive. She became the youngest-ever winner at the 2023 Zhuhai International Mozart Competition, and the 2025 Antonin Dvorak International Youth Radio Competition in the Czech Republic. Last year, she captivated world leaders and delegates at the welcome banquet of the APEC Summit in Gyeongju by performing “Golden,” the theme song from KPop Demon Hunters.

Sharing the stage with her will be the KG Philharmonic Orchestra, a rapidly emerging ensemble founded in 2025 by the Kwak Jea-sun Cultural Foundation. The orchestra is led by renowned conductor Hee-tae Seo, the legendary maestro widely celebrated as the artistic director behind the hit Korean drama Beethoven Virus. The Orchestra consists of talented young musicians who have performed on major domestic and international stages.

Since its debut at the Edaily New Year Concert, the KG Philharmonic has continued to engage audiences through regular performances, including the ’Masterpiece Series‘ at the Seoul Arts Center. For this specific strategic forum gala, the orchestra will present an intimate Piano Sextet featuring Concertmaster Hyun Oh alongside six principal musicians. The ensemble is expected to deliver an evocative performance where softness meets structural power, and precision blends with raw energy.

This year’s Strategy Forum brings together global scholars and leaders including Dr. John J. Hamre (CSIS), Rexon Ryu (The Asia Group), Dr. Noreena Hertz (UCL), and Dr. Thorsten Beck (EUI). They will rigorously unpack Korea‘s survival strategies across shifting defense, industrial, financial, and fiscal orders.

An Edaily Strategy Forum official stated, “The welcoming gala will provide forum participants with a distinguished cultural experience while showcasing the remarkable talent of Korea’s next generation of classical musicians. We expect it to serve as a meaningful opening to a forum, where the future of the global order is discussed, with the universal language of music.”