The judging panel chose the 21-year-old over runner-up Eric Tsai, of the United States, and third placegetter Jevgenijs Cepoveckis, of Latvia, after the trio performed concertos with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra at the Auckland Town Hall on Saturday night.
For her win, Im received $40,000, a recording contract with New Zealand label Atoll, a performance tour throughout New Zealand and Australia and a personalised professional development programme.
Cepoveckis won the Audience Prize, after a vote open to competition viewers worldwide, as well as the inaugural Arancio Prize, for which he will gain the use of a rare violin, crafted by Nicolo Amati, for two years.
The trio were among 16 of the world's most promising young violinists, aged from 18 to 28, who entertained crowds in Queenstown and Auckland during the biennial, eight-day competition.
The three finalists were named after the third round in Auckland on Thursday.
