Korean Air Vice Chairman Woo Kee-hong (right) and violinist Lim Hyun-jae pose for a photo holding a model airline ticket. [Korean Air]
Korean Air Vice Chairman Woo Kee-hong (right) and violinist Lim Hyun-jae pose for a photo holding a model airline ticket. [Korean Air]

Korean Air announced Thursday that it has signed a sponsorship agreement with violinist Lim Hyun-jae at a ceremony held recently at its headquarters in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, attended by Vice Chairman Woo Kee-hong and other senior officials.

Under the agreement, Korean Air will provide complimentary tickets to Lim when he travels on the carrier for official engagements, including international competitions and concerts.

Lim completed his undergraduate studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in the United States and is currently pursuing a master's degree there under Midori Goto. While building his international career, he returned briefly to South Korea in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he suffered a life-threatening traffic accident that required six major surgeries.

After years of rehabilitation and persistent effort, Lim returned to the stage, overcoming a hiatus of more than four years. Performing at times from a wheelchair, he reached the semifinals of both the Yun Isang International Music Competition and the Sibelius International Violin Competition, then won the 20th Seoul International Music Competition last year.

In January, he swept three prizes at the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition in the United States — the top prize, the Best Performance of a Commissioned Work award and the Best Performance of an Ysaÿe Sonata award — cementing his reputation as a rising force in classical music. He has since been named one of Classic FM's "30 Under 30 Rising Stars 2026," drawing recognition as a next-generation violinist poised to lead the global classical music scene.

His victory at the Elmar Oliveira competition secured him more than 30 performance opportunities over the next three years at major venues in New York, Boston and Cremona, Italy. In the 2026-27 season, he is set to make his debut with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Jaap van Zweden, and a Korea tour with the Mantova Chamber Orchestra is scheduled for November.

"We will spare no effort in supporting Lim so that he can perform at his best abroad, starting with a comfortable travel experience," a Korean Air official said.

The official added that the airline plans to expand its sponsorship activities across the arts, culture and sports sectors in its pursuit of becoming the world's most beloved carrier, and will continue backing talented individuals in those fields as part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility and ESG (environmental, social and governance) management.

Korean Air has continuously supported figures who have elevated national pride and international recognition in the arts, culture and sports since 2006. Since 2022, the airline has sponsored pianist Lim Yunchan, who has drawn wide acclaim in the global classical music world.


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