The Finnish National Ballet has chosen a photo of Korean ballerina Kim Seo-yeon, 24, as the featured image on the website promoting its upcoming production of "The Lady of the Camellias," by choreographer John Neumeier, which will be staged next April. Kim, who joined the company in 2020 and was promoted to first soloist in 2024, is set to take on leading roles in several productions in the new season, including "Swan Lake," which opens this month. Korean dancers performing with leading ballet companies around the world are no longer unusual, but Kim’s rise as the face of Finland’s national ballet company is notable. Kim, who briefly returned to Korea during her summer vacation, spoke with Hankook Ilbo at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. “Finnish audiences tend to be reserved and don’t cheer loudly from their seats, but outside the theater they’ll recognize me, come over to say hello, and ask for photos or autographs,” she said. “I feel very loved.” Unlike many Korean dancers who pursue international careers, Kim did not attend an arts middle or high school or the