Delivering essential Korean contemporary art news every week.
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Art+_News Hundreds of Art Professionals Denounce Censorship at Seoul Museum of Art
On June 19, the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) issued an official statement regarding the censorship incident surrounding the exhibition catalogue of the Art Archives of the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA AA). However, criticism from the Korean art community has only intensified in response.
2025.07.01
Gallery_News Gallery Hyundai Selected Among “The 10 Best Booths at Art Basel 2025”
Gallery Hyundai’s booth (G13) at Art Basel 2025 has been selected by Artsy as one of “The 10 Best Booths at Art Basel 2025.” The featured presentation is a solo booth dedicated to Seung-taek Lee, a pioneering figure in Korean experimental art, and is the only solo presentation among the ten selected booths.
Artist_News Atelier Park Eun Sun, the First Art Museum by a Korean Artist in Italy, Opens
On May 31, 2025, Korean sculptor Park Eun Sun opened a new art museum, Atelier Park Eun Sun, in Pietrasanta, Tuscany, Italy. Known as the “mecca of sculpture,” Pietrasanta now houses its first-ever art museum dedicated to a Korean artist.
2025.06.10
Artist_News Artist Eugene Jung Named to ‘Forbes Asia 30 Under 30’ List for 2025
Eugene Jung (b. 1995), a young Korean sculptor, has been named to the ‘2025 Forbes Asia 30 Under 30’ list. Published annually by the American media company Forbes, the ‘30 Under 30’ highlights 30 individuals under the age of 30 who are making notable contributions across various fields.
Museum_News Busan MoCA’s Rebranding Project Wins at 'TDC Awards 2025'
The rebranding project of the Busan Museum of Contemporary Art (Busan MoCA) has won a Main Award in the Communication Design category at the 2025 TDC (Type Directors Club) Awards in New York, one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions.
2025.06.24
Museum_News Photography Seoul Museum of Art, Korea’s First Public Museum Dedicated to Photographic Media, Opens on May 29
The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) will open the Photography Seoul Museum of Art (Photo SeMA) on May 29, marking the launch of Korea’s only public art museum dedicated to photographic media. Located in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu, the newly built museum will serve as a branch of SeMA and has been in development for over a decade in preparation for its opening.
2025.05.27
Museum_News MMCA’s “Ron Mueck” Exhibition Draws Over 210,000 Visitors in First Month
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) announced that its exhibition 《Ron Mueck》, currently on view at the Seoul branch, has attracted more than 210,000 visitors within just over 30 days since its opening.
Museum_News Hong Ra-hee, Former Director of Leeum Museum of Art, Returns as Honorary Director After 8 Years
Hong Ra-hee, who resigned from the position of director at the Leeum Museum of Art in 2017, has returned to the art world as an honorary director after eight years. On April 2, the Samsung Foundation of Culture announced this news in conjunction with the opening of the special exhibition 《Gyeomjae Jeong Seon》at the Hoam Museum of Art, celebrating its 60th anniversary.
2025.04.08
Museum_News MMCA Launches Eco-Friendly Living Products Made from Exhibition Waste
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) has launched three types of eco-friendly everyday living products made from discarded exhibition waste, reflecting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) values.
Nonprofit_News ACC Launches ‘ACC CREATORS 2025 Residency’ Open Call Program
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s National Asian Culture Center (ACC) is launching a global open call for creators to participate in the “ACC CREATORS 2025 Residency,” a support program for interdisciplinary content creation and production. Applications will be accepted until April 30.
Nonprofit_News Corporate Cultural Foundations Triple Their Contribution to Arts and Culture Over the Past Decade
On the 11th, the Arts Council Korea (ARKO) released a report on the state of arts and culture sponsorship by corporate cultural foundations—nonprofit organizations established by domestic companies to support arts and culture. The report revealed that corporate contributions have tripled over the past decade.
Biennale_News Gwangju Biennale Foundation Names New President
Gwangju Biennale Foundation has appointed Park Yang-woo as its next president. Park served as the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism from April 2019 to February 2021. He previously led the Foundation’s board from 2015 to 2017, making this his second time taking up the position.
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).
2023.01.09
Art Market_News "Korea Art Market 2022" Delivers Various Trends and Issues in the Korean Art Market in English
The most-searched term in the Korean art world in 2022 was “Frieze Seoul.” The inaugural fair received not only explosive attention from the domestic art world but also aroused international interest in the Korean art market, bringing many global artists to Korea.
Gallery_News Gallery Hyundai Selected Among “The 10 Best Booths at Art Basel 2025”
Gallery Hyundai’s booth (G13) at Art Basel 2025 has been selected by Artsy as one of “The 10 Best Booths at Art Basel 2025.” The featured presentation is a solo booth dedicated to Seung-taek Lee, a pioneering figure in Korean experimental art, and is the only solo presentation among the ten selected booths.
2025.07.01
Gallery_News ‘Frieze House Seoul,’ a New Exhibition Platform, to Open This September
The global art fair Frieze is set to open a new exhibition platform, Frieze House Seoul, this September in the Yaksu-dong in Seoul. Modeled after No.9 Cork Street, Frieze’s permanent exhibition space in London, this venue will host a year-round program of curated exhibitions, performances, and short-term residencies.
Gallery_News ARARIO GALLERY SHANGHAI Has Relocated to SUHE HAUS in Jing’an District
ARARIO GALLERY SHANGHAI has relocated to SUHE HAUS, a cultural space along the Suzhou Creek in Jing’an District. ARARIO GALLERY opened its first Chinese branch in 2005 in the Jiu Chang Art District, Beijing. The Beijing space, which operated successfully for over seven years, closed its doors in 2012.
2025.03.25
Gallery_News Duarte Sequeira Seoul Relocates to Hannam-dong
The Portuguese gallery Duarte Sequeira announced via its Instagram account that it will be expanding and relocating its Seoul branch to Hannam-dong (61-17 Hannam-daero 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul) this year.
2025.03.18
Gallery_News PKM Gallery Announces Its Exhibition Lineup for 2025
PKM Gallery announced its exhibition lineup for 2025, featuring five solo exhibitions focusing on the diverse trajectories of contemporary art. This year’s lineup highlights the unique creative visions of emerging and established artists across a variety of mediums, including illustration, craft, painting, and sculpture. These exhibitions will offer an opportunity to engage with evolving trends and possibilities within contemporary Korean art.
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 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 Fair_News Highlights at Frieze Seoul 2024
Highlights of Frieze Seoul 2024, taking place September 4-7 at COEX, Gangnam, Seoul, have been revealed. The world's leading galleries participating in Frieze Seoul 2024 are highlighting a wide range of distinguished artists in the Solo, Group, Frieze Masters, and Focus Asia sections.
2024.09.03
Art Fair_News Kiaf SEOUL 2024 to Host Special Exhibition “Kiaf onSITE: Invisible Transitions”
The Galleries Association of Korea announced that it will present the special exhibition “Kiaf onSITE: Invisible Transitions” at Kiaf SEOUL 2024, which will be held for five days from September 4 to 8. “Kiaf onSITE” is a special exhibition showcasing the
2024.08.27
Art Fair_News How to Enjoy Frieze Seoul 2024 to the Fullest
Frieze Seoul 2024 will not only feature a fair showcasing globally acclaimed artworks but also present the most extensive and diverse Frieze Week to date, featuring a variety of programs including cultural events in collaboration with galleries and nonprofit organizations.
Art+_News Hundreds of Art Professionals Denounce Censorship at Seoul Museum of Art
On June 19, the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) issued an official statement regarding the censorship incident surrounding the exhibition catalogue of the Art Archives of the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA AA). However, criticism from the Korean art community has only intensified in response.
2025.07.01
Art+_News Seoul Citizens Attend Cultural and Art Exhibitions 7.2 Times a Year, Returning to Pre-Pandemic Levels
The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture (SFAC) has released the results of its ‘2024 Survey on Cultural Engagement of Seoul Citizens,’ conducted with 10,024 residents. According to the findings, average annual per capita spending on culture reached 214,000 KRW, marking a steady increase from 168,000 KRW in 2022.
Art+_News Getty & ARKO Sign Korea–U.S. Art Research Partnership, Beginning with Nam June Paik Study
Arts Council Korea (ARKO) and the Getty Research Institute (Los Angeles) have agreed to enter an exploratory phase of international collaboration and exchange, in the interest of furthering connections between the two institutions and advancing art historical research between Korea and the United States.
2025.06.03
Art+_News World’s Largest Media Art Festival, ‘ISEA 2025’ Opens on May 23
The International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA), a global media art festival that serves as a multidisciplinary platform for the convergence of art, science, and technology, will take place across Seoul from May 23 to 29.
2025.05.13
Art+_News ‘2025 Museum Week’ Opens with Participation from 260 Institutions Nationwide
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with ICOM Korea (International Council of Museums – Korean Committee) and the Korean Museum Association, is hosting ‘2025 Museum Week’ from May 2 to 31, with participation from over 260 museums and art institutions across the country.