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.

A total of 240 galleries from 42 countries and regions are participating in the fair, with over half of them hailing from the Asia-Pacific region. Among them, 20 are either based in Korea or have Korean branches, reflecting the growing influence of Korean contemporary art in the global arena.

Nine prominent Korean galleries—Arario Gallery, Gallery Baton, Hakgojae, Johyun Gallery, Kukje Gallery, Leeahn Gallery, One and J. Gallery, PKM Gallery, and Wooson Gallery—are featured in the fair’s main sector, Galleries, showcasing and selling works by their leading artists.

Beyond the main sector, Korean galleries are also actively engaging in the fair’s curated sections.

In the Insights section, which highlights artists from the Asia-Pacific region, Jason Haam Gallery is presenting a project in collaboration with artist Jungwook Kim.

The Discoveries section, dedicated to solo presentations by emerging artists, features Shin Min from P21 and Lee Hae-min-seon from Whistle.

Notably, Shin Min was selected as one of the three finalists for the MGM Discoveries Art Prize and was also highlighted by the Art Basel editorial team as one of the “8 Must-See Works” of the fair.

In the Encounters section, known for its large-scale installations, Gallery Baton is presenting work by British artist Liam Gillick, while Whistle is showcasing an installation by Korean artist Heo Ji-hye. Meanwhile, Kukje Gallery is also participating in the Kabinett section, offering a focused solo presentation of 15 paintings, prints, and sculptures by artist Kim Yoon-shin.

During the Art Basel week, Hong Kong is transforming into a dynamic cultural hub. Christie’s Hong Kong is set to auction Jean-Michel Basquiat’s 1984 masterpiece Sabado por la Noche, with an estimated value ranging from HKD 95 million to 125 million (approximately USD 12–16 million). Korean artists Choi Young-wook and Jang Maria also took part in an artist talk, drawing further attention to Korean participation.

At the M+ Museum, a major exhibition combining works by Pablo Picasso and 20th–21st century Asian artists—including Korean artist Haegue Yang—opened in parallel with the fair. Picasso’s politically charged 1951 painting Massacre in Korea is among the notable works on view.

Once scaled down due to the pandemic, Art Basel Hong Kong has returned to full scale since last year and continues to uphold its stature this year. The preview runs through March 27, followed by public days from March 28 to 30.

The Korean galleries’ dynamic and multi-layered participation at Art Basel Hong Kong reflects not just an institutional presence, but a growing recognition of Korean contemporary art in the international market. Their presence underscores the country’s increasingly significant role on the global art stage.