As October ushers in the height of Korea’s autumn art season, the nation’s two leading auction houses—Seoul Auction and K Auction—are each holding major sales in Gangnam and Pyeongchang-dong.

Following a gradual post-pandemic recovery, the art market now stands at a crossroads: will this season’s auctions reignite momentum, or signal a phase of cautious consolidation? The October sales are widely regarded as a key barometer for the direction of the market in the latter half of the year.
 


Seoul Auction: Balancing Tradition and Expansion
 
Throughout October, Seoul Auction is presenting a three-tiered program: a major evening sale, an online collaboration auction with a public foundation, and a charity sale—illustrating its intent to balance tradition with expansion.

▪ 187th Major Art Auction — October 15, Gangnam Center

Seoul Auction’s 187th Major Sale took place on October 15 (Tue) at its Gangnam Center, following a preview from October 10–14.

The lineup featured works by Korea’s modern and postwar masters such as Kim Whanki, Park Sookeun, Chun Kyungja, Yun Hyong-keun, Lee Ufan, and Kim Tschang-Yeul, alongside mid-career figures including Yoo Youngkuk, Oh Soo-hwan, Kwon Young-woo, Kim Tae-ho, and Kang Ik-joong.
 
Among the highlights, Kim Whanki’s ‘dot paintings’ and Yun Hyong-keun’s large canvases drew strong attention from top-tier collectors, while ceramics and sculptures rounded out the sale with genre diversity.


 
▪ ZERO BASE × Jeonnam Cultural Foundation Online Auction — Closing November 20

As part of its ongoing commitment to regional collaboration, Seoul Auction is hosting the “ZERO BASE” online auction in partnership with the Jeonnam Cultural Foundation, focusing on emerging artists from local scenes.
 
The preview opened in mid-October, with the sale closing on November 20 (Wed) at 2 p.m. (KST) .
 
Featured artists include Park Jong-ho, Park Ji-hye, and Kim Jae-young, whose works center on digital and conceptual practices. The auction aims to attract younger MZ-generation collectors and expand accessibility through an online format.
 


▪ WeAJa Charity Auction — October 17–23

Organized by「The Kyunghyang Shinmun」and partnered by Seoul Auction, the ”WeAJa Charity Auction” runs October 17 (Fri)–23 (Wed) online.
 
The sale features art donations from renowned artists alongside celebrity and corporate contributions, with proceeds benefiting underprivileged children and local community programs.
 
Highlights include photo works by Jeong Yeon-doo and a small-scale sculpture by Lee Bul.
 
 

K Auction: The “Mini-Major” of October
 
While K Auction holds regular weekly online auctions, the October 18 (Fri)–23 (Wed) session has drawn attention as a quasi-major sale in both scale and curation.
 
The preview is held concurrently at the company’s Pyeongchang-dong headquarters, with online live bidding available for all registered participants.

▪ Upgraded Quality and Composition

The lineup includes around 100 works by key modern and contemporary artists such as Kim Whanki, Chun Kyungja, Lee Ufan, Chung Sang-hwa, Lee Wal-jong, and Kim Joong-man. Approximately 10 works are estimated above KRW 100 million, and 25 works above KRW 50 million, indicating a clear shift toward higher-value consignments.
 
K Auction continues to strengthen its presence in the high-end art segment within an online environment.
 

▪ Appealing to a New Generation of Collectors
 
Alongside blue-chip names, the auction features works by younger artists including Kim Ji-eun, Ahn Sung-seok, Yoon Hyung-min, and Jang Jia, priced between KRW 3–10 million.
 
This segment aims to activate the mid-price market and encourage first-time acquisitions among younger collectors.
 


Analysis | The Modern Evolution of the Auction Market

The October sales by Seoul Auction and K Auction illustrate how Korea’s auction market is evolving—maintaining its traditional framework while embracing digital transformation, emerging-artist discovery, and socially engaged initiatives.
 
- Seoul Auction reinforces public trust and cultural value by combining blue-chip stability with storytelling-based programs such as regional collaborations and charity sales.
- K Auction expands its online platform to include high-value consignments and new-generation artists, accelerating both digital transition and generational renewal.
 


Conclusion | The Litmus Test of Korea’s 2025 Autumn Market

Beyond short-term sales results, the October auctions of Seoul Auction and K Auction function as a litmus test for market sentiment and generational shift.
 
With stable demand for blue-chip art coexisting alongside the rise of new creative voices, this season reflects Korea’s art market on the verge of a mature equilibrium—a moment of recalibration before its next leap forward.

References

• 서울옥션 (Seoul Auction)
• 케이옥션 (K Auction)