On November 7, pioneering experimental artist Lee Kang So was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit (Bogwan Medal) by the Government of the Republic of Korea. The Order of Cultural Merit is the highest honor bestowed by the Korean government, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of culture and the arts.
 
As a leading figure in Korea’s experimental art movement, Lee spearheaded groundbreaking projects such as New System and A.G., opening new horizons for contemporary art in the 1970s. Over the past three decades, he has laid the groundwork for regional experimental artists to engage on a national stage, while also representing Korean art internationally through his participation in the Paris Biennale, the Sydney Biennale, and the International Studio Program at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA PS1) in New York.

Through seminal works such as Extinction and Painting 78-1, as well as major solo exhibitions including 《Where the Wind Meets the Water》 at National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) and 《Flowing Water, Ongoing Experiment》 at Daegu Art Museum, Lee has profoundly shaped the identity and global presence of Korean art.

Meanwhile, Yang Jung Uk has been selected as the recipient of the Today’s Young Artist Award in the Fine Arts category, as part of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s 2025 Cultural and Arts Development Merit.
 
Yang Jung Uk, who received the “Korea Artist Prize 2024” from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA), was recognized for “his kinetic artworks that poetically express the everyday lives of those who endure with resilience through hardship and hope.” He was awarded the Today’s Young Artist Award, accompanied by a Minister's Award and prize money.

References

• 갤러리현대 보도자료 (Gallery Hyundai Press Release)
• 타데우스 로팍 보도자료 (Thaddaeus Ropac Press Release)