Young Chang – from small workshop to global leader in piano production

The roots of this Korean brand go back to 1956, when the Kim brothers founded the company to handle the distribution of Yamaha pianos and grand pianos in Asia. In 1964, after a few years in business, they began producing Young Chang instruments at two facilities – in South Korea and China.

Soon after, their woodworking skills were recognized in Europe, earning the company a gold medal at Worldskills in Switzerland, followed by a silver medal in Munich. Young Chang also took pride in producing woodworking machines that were widely used. In the 1970s, the company exported thousands of grand pianos to Japan. A significant milestone was achieved in 1983 with the creation of the first full-size concert grand piano in Korea (275 cm in length). In 1984, they opened a branch in Los Angeles, followed by another in Canada in 1986. In the 1990s, the company expanded its presence to Europe. Young Chang won numerous awards in Japan and Europe for its woodworking techniques and the quality of its instrument production. At that time, Young Chang was already among the top five global leaders in the piano and grand piano industry. Their portfolio also expanded to include the Kurzweil brand, known for products like digital pianos. The company also established a branch in Washington, responsible for sourcing and processing spruce and maple for use in instrument production in Asia. Due to lower production costs, a large factory was also opened in China.

Growth and expansion of the brand in global markets

In 1995, Joseph Pramberger joined the Young Chang team, bringing a series of innovations to grand piano construction. Pramberger, previously associated with the American brand Steinway & Sons, brought experience that transformed Young Chang instruments. This collaboration resulted in the Pramberger Platinum line, introduced to the market in the early 21st century. These were high-end instruments, produced for several years until Pramberger's death in 2003, after which the brand was sold to the Samick factory. However, Pramberger's patented solutions remained exclusive to Young Chang. Starting in 1995, the company began to face financial difficulties, which led to Samick acquiring approximately half of its shares in 2004. This acquisition was blocked by the Korean Fair Trade Commission to avoid market monopoly by Samick in Korea. Following bankruptcy in 2006, Young Chang was acquired by Hyundai Development Company, rebranding it as HDC Young Chang. Since 2008, innovation at the company has been overseen by the experienced designer Delwin Fandrich, who has revolutionized the Young Chang line of instruments.

Over the years, Young Chang has produced instruments under brands such as Essex, Ibach, Knabe, Pramberger, Weber, and Wurlitzer. Currently (as of 2020), they produce three lines: Weber, Albert Weber (premium grand pianos), and Young Chang.

Young Chang grand piano models

• Y Series: Y150, Y157, Y175, Y185
• Platinum Series: YP157, YP175, YP185, YP208, YP228, YP275

As you can see, there are small and medium-sized grand pianos as well as concert grand pianos in the Platinum series. All models come in various finishes – white and black Young Chang grand pianos are the most popular.

How much does a Young Chang grand piano cost?

As reflected in the brand's history and the variety of models, prices vary. Young Chang pianos are produced in China, as is the Weber brand (mid-price range). Higher-end grand pianos from the Albert Weber line (made in Korea) belong to a more premium price range. You can check the prices of new Young Chang grand pianos on the dedicated website or compare offers in the Klaviano search engine. Here you may find offers for both new and used Young Chang grand pianos near you.

Do you own a Young Chang grand piano and wonder when it was made?

The answer can usually be found by checking the serial number.

• 1978 - G7800000
• 1980 - G8000000
• 1985 - G016000
• 1990 - G0053945
• 1995 - G0093299
• 2000 - G0130384
• 2003 - G0140310