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 Frieze Seoul’s Expansive Program for 2024 Are Unveiled
Frieze has announced its most extensive program for the third edition of Frieze Seoul, taking place 4 – 7 September 2024. Spanning live performances, films, and talks, the program also sees events across the Korean capital.
Art Fair_News Kiaf SEOUL 2024 Opens in September with 207 Galleries from 21 Countries
The Galleries Association of Korea announces the exhibitor list for Kiaf SEOUL’s 2024 edition in September, featuring 207 galleries from 21 countries and territories. Kiaf SEOUL 2024 will be held from September 4 (VIP preview) to 8 at COEX.
2024.06.10
Art Fair_News Frieze Seoul and Kiaf SEOUL Announced the Participating Galleries for 2023
The second edition of Frieze Seoul will start with a preview on September 6 and run through September 9 with more than 120 galleries from over 30 countries.
The 22nd Kiaf SEOUL will take place from September 6 to 10 with more than 210 galleries from 20 countries.
2023.06.05
Art Fair_News Diaf 2024 Opens Its Largest Scale Ever in May
Diaf, one of South Korea’s top three art fairs after 17 years of existence, will be held this year in May instead of its usual November date. Hosted by the Galleries Association of Daegue and organized by the Diaf Steering Committee, Diaf 2024 will be held at the Daegu Exco for four days, starting with a VIP preview on May 2 and ending on May 5.
Art+_News Seojung Art CEO Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Art Investment Ponzi Scheme
Lee, the head of the prominent Korean gallery Seojung Art, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in a first-instance ruling after being charged in connection with an approximately KRW 100 billion “art-tech” Ponzi scheme. An art-tech Ponzi scheme is a form of financial fraud in which investments in artworks are used as bait to attract new investors, whose funds are then used to pay returns to earlier investors.
2026.07.28
Art+_News 26th Seoul International New Media Festival Announces 50 Finalists for Its Competition Section
The 26th Seoul International New Media Festival (NeMAF 2026), taking place from August 21 to 26, has officially announced the 50 finalists selected for this year's Competition Section. As Asia's longest-running international alternative film festival and Korea's only genre-defying festival dedicated to moving image art that transcends the boundaries of film, art, and technology, NeMAF received a total of 635 submissions this year, including 407 works for the Korean New Works section, 173 for the Glocal New Works section, and 55 for the New Media section.
2026.07.21
Art+_News Corporate Support for Arts in Korea Declines After Three Years of Growth
According to the ‘2025 Survey on Corporate Support for the Arts,’ released by the Korea Mecenat Association on June 30, total corporate support for arts and culture in Korea amounted to approximately KRW 196.9 billion in 2025, marking the first year-on-year decline in three years.
2026.07.07
Art+_News Hyundai Motor Announces New Partner Institutions for Hyundai Translocal Series
Hyundai Motor Company today announced new partner institutions for the Hyundai Translocal Series, an initiative that fosters cross-regional artistic collaborations between art institutions in Korea and across the globe. The newly established exchanges will bring together the Ulsan Art Museum (Ulsan, Korea) and the New Museum (New York, USA), as well as the Seo-Seoul Museum of Art (Seoul, Korea) and the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (Abu Dhabi, UAE).
