Yoo, 25, placed second in the competition's final round, held Friday at the Château de La Ferté-Imbault in France's Loire region.
A graduate of Gyeongbuk Arts High School, where he finished at the top of his class, Yoo is currently a senior majoring in vocal music at Seoul National University.
"Everyone was an outstanding singer, and since it was my first international competition, I was already satisfied just to reach the finals," Yoo said after receiving the award. "I'm incredibly happy to have won a prize. I think I still need some time to fully realize what has happened."
First prize went to 27-year-old American baritone Trevor Hemschrot, while Romanian soprano Paula Iancic, 32, took third place.
"I feel unbelievably blessed," Hemschrot said. "I can't put into words how overwhelmed and wonderful this moment is. I simply gave everything I had on stage and did my best. I never expected this result."
Iancic said performing in a competition founded by renowned South Korean soprano Sumi Jo made the experience especially meaningful.
"Sumi Jo was one of the great opera stars who inspired me to pursue this path," she said. "Just having the opportunity to stand on this stage was already an emotional experience."
The winner received €50,000 in prize money, while the second- and third-place finishers received €20,000 and €10,000, respectively.
A special prize sponsored by Hyundai Motor was awarded to a Chinese mezzo-soprano and Ukrainian soprano Evelina Liubonko.
More than 500 singers from 55 countries applied for this year's competition. After preliminary rounds, 24 contestants advanced to the main competition, with 11 reaching the final.
The competition will return in 2028.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.