This study analyzed Korean-language comments on YouTube videos of pianist Lim Yunchan’s performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 during the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition finals, exploring domestic viewers’ reactions and emotional perceptions of classical music. The research methodology involved selecting only Korean comments collected via the YouTube Data API from June 20, 2022, to December 1, 2023, refining the data, and conducting keyword frequency analysis, LDA Topic Modeling, and sentiment analysis using R. The analysis indicated that viewers expressed deep emotional resonance and admiration for the artistic excellence of Lim’s performance through the identified keywords. The LDA Topic Modeling yielded three themes: ‘the Van Cliburn Competition’, ‘viewer responses’, and ‘the bright future of K-Classic’. Although the sentiment analysis showed some limitations, predominantly positive responses were observed. This study provides substantive data on how viewing classical music performances on YouTube can elicit emotional resonance and admiration for artistic excellence in viewers. Additionally, it confirmed that YouTube plays a crucial role in enhancing the accessibility of classical music and serving as a conduit for appreciation and communication. This research contributes to understanding the current landscape of Korea’s classical music consumption and offers insights into the consumption patterns of classical music in the digital media era.