Must See Top 10 Korean Galleries at Frieze Seoul 2023
Hakgojae Gallery
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth M5
Founded in 1988 in Seoul, the name of Hakgojae Gallery derives from the Confucian saying, “to review the old to learn the new(學古創新).” Rooted in overcoming the challenges of Korean history and fostering precise historical awareness and reflection, the gallery’s philosophy is to engage in the global cultural discourse. Its objective is to connect the old and the new, the local and the global. Hakgojae aims to fortify the foundation of modern and contemporary Korean art through diverse exhibitions, continuously researching and highlighting pioneers of Korean art.
Hakgojae has made concerted efforts to introduce the works of internationally acclaimed artists to the Korean art market. For instance, the 1997 exhibition 《Minimalism as Landscape》 showcased works by prominent American Minimalist artists such as Frank Stella, Donald Judd, Robert Mangold, Richard Tuttle, Agnes Martin, and Robert Ryman. Furthermore, the gallery consistently hosts exhibitions featuring works by international artists like Le Corbusier, Jean-Pierre Raynaud, Bernard Frize, Zhang Huan, Tim Eitel, Fiona Rae, Andreas Eriksson, and Thomas Scheibitz.
With its main building located in a renovated traditional Korean hanok and a new contemporary annex that embodies 21st-century characteristics, the gallery’s appearance embodies its aspiration to facilitate not only the intersection of past and present, but also the exchange between East and West, and the connection of various global regions. And to promote Korean artists worldwide and provide a platform for established international artists to exhibit domestically, Hakgojae actively participates in various international art fairs.
At Frieze Seoul 2023, Hakgojae Gallery will present works by artists such as Nam June Paik, Jaemin Jang, Ufan Lee, Hyun-Sook Song, Tom Anholt, Jae Yong Kim, Young-hun Kim, Hak-chul Shin, Yo Bae Kang, Gil-hu Kim, Woosung Lee, Suknam Yun, Bupkwan, Eun Jeong Kim, and more.
Gallery Baton
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth C1
Established in 2011 in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Gallery Baton has solidified its position as a prominent contemporary art gallery through its profound analysis of modern art and a sophisticated exhibition program. With a keen eye on the international art historical currents, the gallery has cultivated its distinctive perspective, presenting a fresh viewpoint while introducing a balanced selection of accomplished domestic and international artists, all rooted in contemporary sensibilities.
Gallery Baton actively participates in international art fairs such as Art Basel and Frieze, emphasizing collaborations with major art institutions to foster the concurrent growth of the art industry and artists. Two alternative spaces, in which the gallery participates in planning and program execution, focus on the discovery and support of capable and innovative emerging artists. The ‘Observation Deck,’ dedicated to showcasing video and new media artworks, and the non-profit space ‘Chapter II’ strive to establish points of contact between participating artists and the public through exhibition opportunities and residency programs, fostering growth. Gallery Baton continues to contribute to the qualitative expansion and diversity of contemporary art while playing an active role in fostering close communication and solidarity with art enthusiasts.
The gallery’s booths will showcase paintings by Kim Bohie, a master of figurative landscape painting; Koh San Keum’s paintings that translate social texts into a unique figurative language; Lee Jaeseok’s paintings that explore the structures and mechanisms of nature; and Optical Art by Suzanne Song, who extends her painterly experimentation beyond the canvas. The gallery will also feature neon text works by internationally renowned Liam Gillick and LED works by Tatsuo Miyajima. In particular, Christian Hidaka’s paintings, which intersect traditional European and Asian motifs, and Doki Kim’s installation, which explores illusory entities in an LED video installation, will make their debut at the fair.
*Participating Artists
김보희 Kim Bohie, 리암 길릭 Liam Gillick, 미야지마 타츠오 Tatsuo Miyajima, 고산금 Koh San Keum, 배윤환 Bae Yoon Hwan, 최수정 Choi Soo Jung, 이재석 Lee Jaeseok, 정희승 Heeseung Chung, 김덕희 Doki Kim, 유이치 히라코 Yuichi Hirako, 수잔 송 Suzanne Song, 크리스찬 히다카 Christian Hidaka, 피터 스틱버리 Peter Stichbury, 리너스 반 데 벨데 Rinus Van de Velde, 빈우혁 Bin Woo Hyuk, 최지목 Jimok Choi, 마커스 암 Markus Amm
Johyun Gallery
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth C3
In 1989, Johyun Gallery opened its doors in Gwangalli, Busan under the name ‘Gallery World’. Subsequently, it established new exhibition spaces near Haeundae’s Dalmaji Hill in 2007 and in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. Through these spaces, the gallery has been introducing and showcasing a diverse range of art pieces.
Johyun Gallery aspires to define Korean art within the critical context of the global contemporary art history, both present and future. To achieve this, the gallery presents exhibitions featuring major Korean artists from the post-war eras, as well as monochromatic artists such as Park Seo Bo, Yoon Hyung-geun, and Kim Jong-hak. It supports influential mid-career artists like Lee Lee, Lee Dong-yi, and Yoon Jong-suk, while also promoting the growth of emerging artists like An Ji-san, Kang Kang-hoon, and Lee So-yeon. The gallery not only develops core programs for Korean artists but also introduces internationally acclaimed figures like Joseph Beuys, Pierre Soulages, Claude Viallat, Yayoi Kusama, Jin Meyerson, and Bosco Sodi to the domestic audience.
Beyond hosting around 10 exhibitions annually across its two spaces in Busan, Johyun Gallery enhances its regional influence by participating in major art fairs across Asia. At Frieze Seoul 2023, Johyun Gallery will present works by artists including Park Seo Bo, Kim Chong Hak, Lee Bae, Yoon Jong Suk, Jin Meyerson, Bosco Sodi, Lee Kwang Ho, Kishio Suga and so on.
A-Lounge
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth F10
Located in Jongno-gu, Buam-dong, A-Lounge aims to present a diverse spectrum of the contemporary art scene through a variety of exhibitions and curatorial projects, allowing for an understanding of the flow and trends in modern art. The gallery focuses on discovering promising artists and providing them with avenues to engage actively on a global scale. A-Lounge is particularly dedicated to participating in renowned international art fairs, while also working to establish channels for domestic artists to enter the international stage. In doing so, the gallery seeks to stimulate active artist engagement, foster close communication with art enthusiasts both domestically and internationally, and facilitate opportunities for such interactions.
At Frieze Seoul 2023, A-Lounge will showcase the works of Jung Soojung. Jung Soojung is a painter based in Seoul who takes an interest in a mystical realm that transcends conventional logic. Her works often feature scenes that depart from logical explanations, such as mass deaths of whales without apparent reason or bodies spontaneously combusting. She reconstructs fragments of everyday life into fantastical scenes, forming an inseparable relationship between imagination and reality, despite their contrasting nature. Through visual imagery that conveys emotions and imaginings that cannot be fully conveyed through words, the artist strives to achieve emotional connections with others. This effort extends to contemplating the intuitive impressions that the images on the canvas evoke in the viewers.
Jung Soojung believes in the “conceptual power inherent in all paintings” and continuously endeavors to explore “dramatic forms, colors, and genres, much like scenes in a theatrical play.” Her sixth solo exhibition is scheduled to take place at A-Lounge on December 15th.
Kukje Gallery
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth A29
Founded in 1982 by Chairwoman Lee Hyun-sook, Kukje Gallery initially opened in Insa-dong and subsequently relocated to Sogyeok-dong, Seoul in 1987. Over the past four decades, it has firmly established itself as one of the prominent art spaces representing Korean art. Kukje Gallery has been instrumental in introducing significant works and trends of contemporary domestic and international artists while integrating art culture and the market, playing a central role as a hub for art and culture.
The gallery has also been active in hosting solo exhibitions for renowned foreign artists including Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Anish Kapoor, Robert Mapplethorpe, Candida Höfer, Jenny Holzer, Bill Viola, Ugo Rondinone, Roni Horn, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Julian Opie, among others, actively supporting their entrance into the Korean art market.
Meanwhile, Kukje Gallery has consistently striven to support the comprehensive artistic activities of Korean artists such as Choi Wook-kyung, Kim Yong-ik, Ku Bon-chang, Ahn Kyu-chul, Hong Seung-hye, Ham Kyung-ah, Yang Hye-gyu, Moon Sung-sik, and Kang Seo-kyung, facilitating their international exposure and providing a foundation for their presence on the global stage. The gallery has showcased the potential and possibilities of Korean art to diverse overseas collectors and art professionals by participating in the forefront of the art market, including the world’s largest art fair, Art Basel, since 1998.
Kukje Gallery has also been known for its active engagement in introducing the historical significance and artistic value of Korean Dansaekhwa painters from different periods such as Kwon Young-woo, Park Seo-bo, Ha Jong-hyun, and Lee Ufan. Through exhibitions like the 《Dansaekhwa》 special exhibition held as the official collateral event of the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015, the 《When Process Becomes Form: Dansaekhwa and Korean Abstraction》 special exhibition in collaboration with the Boghossian Foundation in Brussels, Belgium in 2016, and the 《Korean Abstract Art: Kim Whanki and Dansaekhwa》 exhibition held in a Shanghai gallery in 2018, Kukje Gallery not only led the monochrome trend worldwide but also revitalized the entire landscape of Korean art history.
At Frieze Seoul 2023, Kukje Gallery will present works by artists including Lee Ufan, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Haegue Yang, Anselm Reyle, Sooja Kim, Cecily Brown, Kibong Rhee, Alexander Calder, Hein-Kuhn Oh, Bharti Kher, Eemyun Kang, Roni Horn, Hong-Joo Kim, Joan Mitchell, Anthony Caro, Eva Hesse, Seo-Bo Park, Chung Sang-Hwa, Richard Long, Robert Mapplethorpe, and more.
Leeahn Gallery
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth A7
Leeahn Gallery, established by collector-turned-director Ahn Hye-ryung, operates two galleries, Leeahn Daegu and Leeahn Seoul, founded in 2007 and 2013 respectively. Positioned in Seoul’s iconic cultural district, Seochon in Jongno-gu, and in the city of Daegu, known as the cradle of modern art in Korea, Leeahn Gallery strives to bridge more artists and viewers by hosting distinctive exhibitions.
Leeahn Gallery not only faithfully introduces the flow of contemporary Korean art through exhibitions of renowned local artists like Nam June Paik, Lee Kang-so, Lee Gun-yong, and Tchun-Mo Nam but also provides significant exhibition opportunities by organizing solo shows for notable foreign artists such as Andy Warhol, Alex Katz, Frank Stella, Damien Hirst, Elizabeth Peyton, and Imi Knoebel. These exhibitions have garnered acclaim for Leeahn Gallery’s profound understanding of contemporary art.
Moreover, the gallery consistently participates in international art fairs like Art Basel Hong Kong, Frieze Seoul, and KIAF to promote the overseas expansion of Korean artists. As a result, numerous affiliated artists have been invited to exhibit in renowned international museums and galleries and their works have been acquired into prestigious collections. The gallery’s ongoing mission is to discover and nurture promising artists both domestically and internationally, contributing to the growth and globalization of the Korean art market. In doing so, Leeahn Gallery aims to go beyond the role of merely introducing exhibitions to the audience, aspiring to become a comprehensive cultural facility that encourages art appreciation, art collection culture, and education for future generations.
At Frieze Seoul 2023, Leeahn Gallery will present works by Kun-Yong Lee, Tchun-Mo Nam, Kwangho Lee, Keun-Tai Kim, Lee Jin Woo, Taek-Sang Kim, and Yoon-Hee.
One and J. Gallery
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth A13
Opened in 2005 in Seoul, One and J. Gallery is one of the first galleries to primarily focus on young Korean contemporary artists. Its diverse programs, including “One and J. +1” launched in 2016, are dedicated to discovering promising artists. Gallery-represented artists like Honggoo Kang, Kyunghwan Kwon, Suyoung Kim, Yunho Kim, and Dongwook Suh receive ongoing support and long-term plans.
The gallery’s involvement with solo and group exhibitions featuring its representative artists since its early days has played a significant role in rapidly building the gallery’s reputation. Notable recent exhibitions include participation in the Gwangju Biennale(2012, 2010 and 2008), Dunedin Public Art Gallery(2013), Esslingen Foto and Media Triennale(2013), Adelaide International(2012), Wellington Art Galleryt(2014), Daegu Photo Biennale(2012), Incheon Women Artist Biennale(2012), among others.
The gallery has also exhibited at prominent institutions such as the Hite Collection(Seoul), Spencer of Museum of Art, Nam June Paik Art Center, Artsonje, House of World Cultures(Berlin), National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art; David Roberts Art Foundation, Somerset House, the Mori Museum, the Singapore Biennale, the Asia Pacific Triennale, The Echigo-Tsumari Triennial, Officina Asia, and Samsung Museum of Art. Additionally, the gallery has participated in major international art fairs like Art Basel Miami, Art Basel, Art Basel Hong Kong, the Armory Show, Art Los Angeles Contemporary, Frieze London, and Taipei Dangdai. In 2018, at Art Basel in Switzerland, the gallery won the Baloise Art Prize in the Statements sector, a first for a Korean gallery.
At Frieze Seoul 2023, One and J. Gallery will present works by Ahnnlee Lee, Jong Oh, Kyunghwan Kwon, Min ha Park, Dongwook Suh, Seung Yul Oh, Sunmin Park, Yunho Kim, Honggoo Kang, Soyoung Chung, and Suyoung Kim.
P21 Gallery
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth A9
Founded in 2017 in Seoul’s Itaewon district, P21 Gallery is dedicated to showcasing 21st-century contemporary art. Starting with exhibitions by prominent figures in Korean contemporary art, such as Choi Jeong Hwa, P21 gained attention and has continued to select and introduce both established and emerging artists. Through active collaboration with domestic and international institutions and participation in major international art fairs, P21 aims to expand the global presence of its artists while also presenting projects by foreign artists in Korea to establish a balanced international program.
P21 is situated on the ground level of Itaewon’s Gyeongnidan-gil street and consists of two separate exhibition spaces, ‘P1’ and ‘P2’. The gallery’s setup, including a window gallery for public viewing beyond operating hours, aims to lower the threshold for the public to engage with the gallery. Additionally, P21 encourages artists to realize new ideas within the gallery’s space and create site-specific works tailored to the contrasting exhibition spaces. Looking forward, P21 is dedicated to fostering closer collaborations with various institutions and participating in international art fairs, providing artists with a broader platform.
At Frieze Seoul 2023, P21 Gallery will present works by Choi Jeong Hwa, Haneyl Choi, Hyungkoo Lee, and Keem Jiyoung. Among these, Haneyl Choi’s participation in the group exhibition “EROS” will be on display at P21 until October 7th.
PKM Gallery
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth A14
Established in 2001 in Seoul’s Jongno-gu, PKM Gallery has consistently curated exhibitions featuring prominent artists that lead both the domestic and international art scenes. Simultaneously showcasing the works of iconic Korean artists like Dansaekhwa maestros Yun Hyung-geun, Yoo Young-kuk, Jung Chang-sub, Seo Seung-won, as well as Kwon Jin-kyu, Gu Jeong-ah, Cody Choi, and Lee Sang-nam, the gallery actively introduced internationally renowned figures such as John Baldessari, Ólafur Elíasson, Dan Flavin, Carsten Höller, Claes Oldenburg, and Coosje van Bruggen to the Korean audience.
Functioning as an incubator for emerging talents, PKM Gallery has curated exhibitions featuring artists like Baek Hyun-jin, Ku Hyun-mo, Lee Won-woo, Toby Ziegler, Brent Wadden, and Hernan Bas, contributing significantly to their growth as the next generation of art leaders.
Pioneering the representation of Korean contemporary art on the global stage, PKM Gallery became the first Korean gallery to be invited to the 2004 Frieze Art Fair. Sustaining this role, the gallery consistently participates in esteemed international art fairs such as Art Basel, FIAC, Armory Show, and Expo Chicago, thus introducing a diverse range of domestic and international artworks to collectors and art professionals worldwide. This endeavor has facilitated the establishment of Korean art on the international scene. Having relocated to Samcheong-dong in 2015 to a larger space, PKM Gallery continues its trailblazing endeavors, relentlessly pursuing experimental activities and pioneering new paradigms in the art scene.
At Frieze Seoul 2023, PKM Gallery will present works by Yun Hyong-Keun, Young In Hong, Hernan Bas, Oldenburg/van Bruggen, Chung Chang-Sup, Hyunmo Koo, Dan Flavin, Jonas Dahlberg, Jinkyu Kwon, Yiyun Kang, Toby Ziegler, John Baldessari, Suh Seung-Won, Wonwoo Lee, Michael Craig-Martin, Brent Wadden, and more.
Whistle
Frieze Seoul 2023 : Booth C17
Opened in 2017 in Seoul, Whistle has garnered recognition for its mission to promote young Korean artists both domestically and internationally while fostering their growth. Since its inaugural participation in the ‘S-Booth’ of Art Busan in 2018, the gallery has consistently expanded its presence by participating in the fair for four consecutive years. Whistle has evolved to become a platform where collaborative efforts with exhibiting artists result in fully realized exhibitions, while continuous and diverse projects are undertaken with these artists.
Furthermore, the gallery aims to establish itself as a flexible space facilitating vibrant discourse, where various exhibition directions and methods are explored by engaging with exhibition planners and artists engaged in activities both nationally and internationally.
At Frieze Seoul 2023, Whistle will present works by artists such as Hejum Bä, Ram Han, Eimei Kaneyama, Dongho Kang, Kyoungtae Kim, Taeyoon Kim, Min ha Park, and Jiieh G Hur. Eimei Kaneyama, a third-generation Korean residing in Korea after completing studies in the United States, will also hold a solo exhibition titled “Future Days” at Whistle until September 23rd.
Additionally, the gallery featured exhibitions by installation artist Jiieh G Hur with “Dimensional Veil”, exploring the role of paper as a dimension-defining entity, and Dongho Kang’s solo exhibition “Detachment”, which contemplates imagery and objects as dual subjects, both conducted respectively in July and March earlier this year.
