Delivering essential Korean contemporary art news every week.
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Museum_News Kumho Museum of Art, a Launchpad for Emerging Korean Artists, to Close Next July
After 38 years of assessing the currents of contemporary Korean art and discovering promising emerging artists, Kumho Museum of Art will close its doors next July. On September 6, the Kumho Cultural Art Foundation, chaired by Seo Jae-hwan, announced, “In order to ensure the sustainable continuation of our support for culture and the arts by focusing and concentrating our business capabilities, we have decided to end our visual arts programs beginning in July 2027.”
2026.09.15
Nonprofit_News Hermès Foundation Missulsang Launches Digital Archive Spanning 25 Years
On September 1, the Hermès Foundation unveiled a digital archive commemorating the 20th edition of the Hermès Foundation Missulsang, titled Memories for the Future: 25 Years of Hermès Foundation Missulsang. Since 2000, the Missulsang has sought out and supported new practices and experiments in Korean contemporary art.
2026.09.15
Biennale_News 16th Gwangju Biennale Opens, Highlighting the Value of Change and Action through Art
On September 4, the 16th Gwangju Biennale, 《You Must Change Your Life》, officially opened with a ceremony, marking the beginning of its 72-day run. Under the theme “You must change your life,” the 16th Gwangju Biennale examines the meaning of “change” and “action” through the lens of contemporary art, spanning the individual and extending to society, history, and even the universe.
Artist_News Citizens Unite to Save Oh Yoon's Terracotta Relief from Demolition
A terracotta work by Oh Yoon (1946–1986), a pioneering figure of Korean Minjung art, has been discovered after remaining hidden for nearly half a century inside the Woori Bank building in Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. However, the work now faces the threat of being lost due to the building's impending demolition.
Artist_News Kim Kulim Demolishes the PlaceMAK Building in a Radical Performance
On June 24, pioneering Korean experimental artist Kim Kulim staged a radical performance by demolishing the PlaceMAK 2 building in Seoul's Yeonhui-dong and installing a monumental spherical inflatable sculpture atop its ruins. The 90-year-old artist arrived at PlaceMAK 2—the venue of his latest solo exhibition—accompanied by an excavator and a team of demolition workers. Despite his limited mobility, the artist directed the demolition performance with hand gestures, signaling the workers to tear down the building's roof and walls and clear away the rubble..
2026.07.07
Artist_News Artist Bae Young-whan, Who Comforted the Lives of Ordinary People, Passes Away at 57
On June 19, Bae Young-whan, a prominent figure in Korean contemporary art, passed away at the age of 57. A central figure in the generation that gained international recognition in the early 2000s, Bae—alongside close friends and colleagues like Lee Bul and Haegue Yang—was renowned for conceptually incisive work that bridged Korea’s complex artistic legacy with global discourses on modernity and society.
2026.06.30
Artist_News Hong Soonmo & Moon Isaac Named Winners of the 40th Kim Se-Choong Sculpture Award
On June 16, the Kim Se-Choong Memorial Foundation announced that sculptor Hong Soonmo (b. 1949) has been selected as the recipient of the 40th Kim Se-Choong Sculpture Award, while sculptor Moon Isaac (b. 1986) has been named the recipient of the 37th Kim Se-Choong Sculpture Award for Young Artists.
2026.06.23
Artist_News Yagwang Wins the Frieze Seoul Artist Award 2026
Seoul-based artist collective Yagwang has been named as the winner of the 2026 Frieze Seoul Artist Award. Supported by Bvlgari for the fourth consecutive year, the award spotlights and supports Korea’s talents at a pivotal stage in their careers. The winner is invited to realize an ambitious new commission on-site at Frieze Seoul, which takes place this year at COEX, 2 – 5 September 2026
Museum_News Kumho Museum of Art, a Launchpad for Emerging Korean Artists, to Close Next July
After 38 years of assessing the currents of contemporary Korean art and discovering promising emerging artists, Kumho Museum of Art will close its doors next July. On September 6, the Kumho Cultural Art Foundation, chaired by Seo Jae-hwan, announced, “In order to ensure the sustainable continuation of our support for culture and the arts by focusing and concentrating our business capabilities, we have decided to end our visual arts programs beginning in July 2027.”
2026.09.15
Museum_News Nam June Paik Art Center Announces Ryoji Ikeda as Winner of the 9th Nam June Paik Prize
Nam June Paik Art Center announced that the Jury of the 9th Nam June Paik Prize has selected Ryoji Ikeda (b. 1966, Japan) as the winner of the 9th Nam June Paik Prize. Born in Gifu, Japan, Ikeda is an internationally acclaimed media artist based in Paris, France, and Kyoto, Japan. One of Japan’s leading composers and artists, he has explored the essential characteristics of sound itself and the distinctive qualities of visuals realized as light, by means of mathematical precision and aesthetics.
2026.09.08
Museum_News Centre Pompidou Hanwha Takes Art Beyond the Museum with First “Garden Project”
Centre Pompidou Hanwha is expanding the art experience beyond the museum and into an outdoor garden. In September, Centre Pompidou Hanwha will present its first garden project, 《Imprinting Time》, in the museum’s outdoor space, the 63 Oudolf Garden. Marking its first attempt to bring contemporary art beyond the conventional exhibition space and into a garden setting, the project proposes a new viewing experience in which art, nature, and the urban landscape converge.
2026.09.01
Museum_News Leeum Museum of Art Weaves Three Years of “Idea Museum” into a Living Vocabulary
Leeum Museum of Art presents 《Idea Museum, After Tomorrow》, a flagship public project showcasing an “evolving glossary” selected from the museum’s previous research programs, on view from September 5 to November 29. Idea Museum explores contemporary issues through artistic and interdisciplinary perspectives, guided by the principles of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equality, and Accessibility(IDEA), and is supported by the CHANEL Culture Fund.
2026.08.25
Museum_News Digitization and Research of Korean Modern and Contemporary Art Archives Preserved in Japan
The Art Research Center at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA Art Research Center) announced that it will undertake the digitization and research of Korean modern and contemporary art archives preserved in Japan in collaboration with the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (東京文化財硏究所, TOBUNKEN).
2026.08.11
Museum_News Rare Out-of-Print Book Missing from Yoo Youngkuk Retrospective at SeMA
A rare out-of-print book provided for public reading at the Seoul Museum of Art’s retrospective exhibition 《Yoo Youngkuk: A Mountain Within Me》, commemorating the 110th anniversary of the artist’s birth, has gone missing.
Nonprofit_News Hermès Foundation Missulsang Launches Digital Archive Spanning 25 Years
On September 1, the Hermès Foundation unveiled a digital archive commemorating the 20th edition of the Hermès Foundation Missulsang, titled Memories for the Future: 25 Years of Hermès Foundation Missulsang. Since 2000, the Missulsang has sought out and supported new practices and experiments in Korean contemporary art.
2026.09.15
Nonprofit_News ‘Nuhwa Contemporary’ Opens as a New International Cultural Platform Connecting Asia and the Gulf Region
On September 1, Nuhwa Contemporary, a new international cultural platform based in Seoul and Abu Dhabi that connects Asia and the Gulf region, opened its doors in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The name “Nuhwa” combines “Nuha”–refined intellect–and “Hawa”–creative impulse. Bringing ideas together, Nuhwa embraces artistic experimentation as a catalyst for new narratives and exchange.
2026.09.08
Nonprofit_News Samsung Ho-Am Prize Raises Award to KRW 500 Million, Strengthening Its Global Standing
The Ho-Am Foundation (Chairman: Hwang Sik Kim) announced that beginning next year, the prize money awarded to recipients of the Samsung Ho-Am Prize will be substantially increased from the current KRW 300 million to KRW 500 million per recipient. As a result, the total prize money across the six categories will rise from KRW 1.8 billion to KRW 3 billion.
2026.08.18
Nonprofit_News Busan Metropolitan City to Decide on Hosting Pompidou Center Branch in Early October
Busan Metropolitan City announced that it will establish and implement deliberative and communication processes involving citizens and members of the cultural and arts community in order to reach swift decisions on key cultural policy issues, including the construction of a branch of the Centre Pompidou and the opening performance of the Busan Opera House, featuring a guest performance by La Scala.
2026.08.18
Nonprofit_News Urban Regeneration Project ‘Gwangju Folly’ Faces Criticism Over Poor Maintenance
The public art project ‘Gwangju Folly,’ created with the aim of promoting urban regeneration and cultural revitalization, has come under criticism as some of its structures have been damaged or have lost their original functions due to inadequate maintenance.
Biennale_News 16th Gwangju Biennale Opens, Highlighting the Value of Change and Action through Art
On September 4, the 16th Gwangju Biennale, 《You Must Change Your Life》, officially opened with a ceremony, marking the beginning of its 72-day run. Under the theme “You must change your life,” the 16th Gwangju Biennale examines the meaning of “change” and “action” through the lens of contemporary art, spanning the individual and extending to society, history, and even the universe.
2026.09.15
Biennale_News Busan Biennale 2026 Opens, Exploring the Possibilities of Connection and Resistance
The Busan Biennale Organizing Committee announces the opening of Busan Biennale 2026, Dissident Chorus》, which will take place from 29 August to 1 November 2026 across Busan Museum of Contemporary Art, Space OneZ and Former Busan Nam High School.
2026.09.08
Biennale_News 5th Jeju Biennale Opens, Reimagining Jeju Through the Art of Metamorphosis
The 5th Jeju Biennale held its opening ceremony on August 24, marking the beginning of an 83-day journey. Organized by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and hosted by the Jeju Museum of Art, the 5th Jeju Biennale, 《Iyahong: The Art of Metamorphosis》, brings together 69 artists and teams from 20 countries. LEE Jong Hoo, Director of the Jeju Museum of Art, serves as the artistic director.
2026.09.01
Biennale_News Gwangju Biennale Restores the Name “Taiwan Pavilion”
The controversy over the change in the name of the “Taiwan Pavilion” ahead of the opening of the 16th Gwangju Biennale has been resolved with the Gwangju Biennale Foundation accepting the Taiwanese side’s request. On August 25, the Gwangju Biennale Foundation announced that, after reviewing an application submitted by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA), it had approved the pavilion name as “Taiwan Pavilion,” replacing the previous designation “NTMoFA.”
Biennale_News The Evolution of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale Reborn as a 3D Digital Archive
A 3D digital archive has been created to provide an in-depth look at the process behind the construction of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (hereinafter “the Korean Pavilion”), located in the Giardini della Biennale in Venice, Italy, as well as the architectural considerations embedded in its design.
Art Market_News South Korea’s MCST Plans to Implement Art Policies for the Continued Growth of the Korean Art Market, Which Exceeded 1 Trillion KRW in 2022
Over the past year, many local experts predicted that the size of the Korean art market would surpass 1 trillion KRW (Korean won) in 2022. This speculation has turned out to be true, as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) announced on January 4, 2023, that the size of the art market in 2022 was estimated to be 1.0377 trillion KRW (approximately $1 billion USD).
Gallery_News Hannam Saturdays: A New Initiative Connecting Hannam-dong’s Art Landscape
On June 13, Hannam-dong in Seoul’s Yongsan District was transformed into a vibrant site of artistic exchange. The inaugural edition of ‘Hannam Saturdays,’ a new collaborative program organized by twelve galleries located throughout the neighborhood, made its debut.
2026.06.16
Gallery_News Gladstone Seoul Will Move to a Larger Venue in Seoul’s Hannam-dong in the Summer of 2026
Gladstone has announced the expansion and relocation of its Seoul gallery to a new space in Hannam-dong, one of the city’s leading arts and cultural districts, later this summer. This move is particularly notable as it establishes a new foothold in Hannam-dong, an area densely populated with major institutions such as the Leeum Museum of Art, as well as prominent local and international galleries. With a growing number of global galleries—including Esther Schipper—relocating to the neighborhood, Hannam-dong is rapidly emerging as a key hub in Seoul’s art market. Through this expansion, Gladstone aims to further strengthen its presence in Asia.
Gallery_News Korea’s First Sculpture-Dedicated Gallery ‘Space Tone’ Opens in Hapjeong, Seoul
Korea’s first sculpture- dedicated gallery, Space Tone (S.tone), has opened in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. While most sculpture-dedicated venues in Korea are located on the outskirts of Seoul due to the scale and weight of the works, Space Tone stands out as a space situated in the heart of the city—offering visitors the opportunity to encounter sculpture naturally in their everyday lives.
2025.11.18
Gallery_News Five Young Galleries to Watch in Seoul, Picked by ARTnews
On September 1, ARTnews, the American art magazine, spotlighted five emerging Seoul galleries to watch. Unlike the city’s more traditional galleries, these new spaces stand out for their distinctive sense of place and independent programs. The ARTnews highlighted PS CENTER, WWNN, Shower, Sangheeut, and Xlarge.
Auction_News Seoul Auction to Host ‘Connect Seoul 2024’ During Frieze·Kiaf Seoul Week
Seoul Auctions hosts ‘Connect Seoul 2024,’ a series of exhibitions and events from August 24 to September 13 at its Gangnam Center, to coincide with Frieze-Kiaf Seoul Week. Connect Seoul consists of two special exhibitions highlighting major Korean and international artists of modern and contemporary art, a group exhibition of media art, and a preview of upcoming auctions.
2024.09.03
Auction_News SBI Art Auction to Host Its First Overseas Auction Preview at Art Chosun Space in Seoul
Japan’s SBI Art Auction will present its first overseas auction preview, "Early Highlight Viewing in Seoul," from October 1 to 6 at Art Chosun Space (ACS) in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The preview is part of the "68th SBI Art Auction | MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART" to be held on October 25 and 26.
2024.08.13
Auction_News Global Auction House Phillips Appoints Lim Yeon-ah to Lead the Korean office
On the 5th, Phillips, one of the world’s top three auction houses, appointed Lim Yeon-ah as the head of its Korean office.
Since joining Phillips in 2020, she has overseen Phillips exhibitions during the Frieze Seoul art fair over the past two years.
Auction_News Christie’s First Exhibition in South Korea, What Does This Mean for the Local Art Market?
The booming Korean art market attracts many international art galleries and art fairs to Seoul. World-renowned galleries, including König Galerie, Thaddeus Ropac, and Gladstone Gallery, have opened a branch in Seoul, and Frieze has partnered with Kiaf SEOUL to hold art fairs in Seoul for five years from this year.
Art Fair_News Highlights to Watch at ‘Kiaf SEOUL 2025’
From September 3 to 7, Kiaf SEOUL 2025, the largest art fair in Korea, will take place at COEX in Seoul. This year’s edition brings together 175 galleries from over 20 countries.
2025.09.02
Art Fair_News 10 Must-See Artists Selected by ‘Frieze Seoul 2025’
At Frieze Seoul 2025, a wide range of solo presentations will unfold across the Galleries, Focus Asia, and Masters sections. The fair will not only highlight the breadth of historically significant artists’ careers but also spotlight bold new works and large-scale installations by emerging talents.
2025.09.02
Art Fair_News An Open Platform for Artistic Discourse at ‘Kiaf·Frieze Seoul 2025’
At Korea’s largest art fairs, Kiaf·Frieze Seoul 2025, an open platform for artistic discourse, the “Kiaf x KAMS x Frieze Seoul Talk Program”, will take place from September 4 to 6 at Studio 159 on the 2nd floor of COEX, Seoul.
2025.09.02
Art Fair_News How to Enjoy ‘Frieze Seoul 2025’ to the Fullest
The fourth edition of the Frieze Seoul returns to COEX in the city’s Gangnam neighbourhood from 3 – 6 September, and, in keeping with previous editions, will feature an expansive programme of live art and performance, film, talks and artist projects alongside presentations from 120 galleries.
2025.08.26
Art Fair_News ‘Kiaf SEOUL 2025’ to Unfold as a Vibrant Art Festival
Kiaf SEOUL 2025, Korea’s largest art fair, will take place from Wednesday, September 3 to Sunday, September 7 at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul. During Kiaf Art Week, Kiaf will collaborate with Frieze Seoul as well as domestic and international art institutions to present a wide range of programs, offering audiences a unique opportunity to engage with art.
2025.08.26
Art Fair_News Korean Galleries Make Strong Statement at Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 Amid Market Slowdown
Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 officially opened on March 26 with a VIP preview at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, drawing attention as Asia’s largest art fair resumes at full scale. Despite a global art market slowdown, Korean galleries are showing remarkable presence and vitality at this year’s event.
Art+_News Kim Ji-yeon wins 2024 Spring Literary Awards for art criticism in Chosun Ilbo.
Kim Ji-yeon has been elected as the winner in the art criticism category of the 2024 ‘Shinchunmunye’ Literature and Art Awards sponsored by Chosun Ilbo. The title of the winning work is < The Racing World, Yet the ‘Being’ Present Here and Now Body. >
2024.01.08
Art+_News South Korean Government Increases Budget for Art Promotion and Introduces Artist's Resale Right
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has finalized next year’s budget at KRW(Korean won) 6.9545 trillion. This is a decrease of KRW 251 billion from the government’s proposed budget but a 3.17% increase from the 2023 budget. The MCST budget supports a wide range of sectors but particularly focuses on expanding support for content (publishing, comics, music, games, movies, animation, broadcasting, advertising, characters, knowledge information, and content solutions) and regional cultural initiatives.
2023.12.25
Art+_News The Recipient of the 2023 SeMA-HANA Art Criticism Award is Hangil Jang
The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) has selected emerging art critic Hangil Jang (b. 1988) to receive the 2023 SeMA-Hana Art Criticism Award, sponsored by Hana Financial Group. This award, the first biennial art critique award presented by a public art museum, was established to promote contemporary Korean art criticism and marks the event’s fifth edition.
2023.12.18
Art+_News A Giant Art Storage Facility to Be Built at Incheon Airport in 2026
A massive multimillion-dollar art storage facility, Arshexa Freeport, near Incheon International Airport in South Korea is set to break ground as early as next April, aiming to position the country as Asia’s art hub.
Art+_News The Arts Council Korea Plans a Comprehensive Overhaul of 2024 Open-Call Projects
South Korea provides a substantial amount of support programs for artists, more than many other countries. However, there has been widespread consensus in the field that the open-call support system, managed by public institutions, is overly complicated and difficult to navigate. Additionally, critics argue that there is an overemphasis on minor, one-time project grants, making it challenging for sustainable growth.
