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.
 
Organized by the Kim Se-Choong Memorial Foundation, the Kim Se-Choong Sculpture Award was established in 1987 to commemorate the achievements of Kim Se-Choong (1928–1986), a pioneering first-generation figure in Korean contemporary sculpture. Since its inception, the award has been presented annually to a sculptor who demonstrates outstanding artistic achievement and excellence in the field.

The jury praised Hong Soonmo’s artistic practice for its distinctive fusion of the formal language of Korean Buddhist sculpture with a uniquely Korean lyricism, noting that his work has embodied an art rooted in “the here and now of our land.” Particular emphasis was placed on his sensitive exploration of the inner conflicts of human existence and the enduring longing for peace.
 
Moon Isaac, this year’s recipient of the Kim Se-Choong Sculpture Award for Young Artists, has continually expanded the boundaries of traditional sculpture through his ongoing experiments with “meta-modeling,” which traverse the realms of both online and offline space.
 
The jury highlighted his ability to materialize the sensibilities of 3D modeling and digital interfaces through sculptural language, thereby opening up new possibilities for sculpture in the digital age.

The awards were judged by a panel chaired by Lee Yong Deok, former professor at Seoul National University, and comprising Chung Hyun (former professor, Hongik University), Yoon Young-seok (former professor, Gachon University), Cho Eun-jung (visiting professor, Korea University), and Kim In-hye (Head of the Curatorial Research Division, MMCA).

References

• 김세중미술관 (Kimsechoong Museum)
• 뉴시스, 김세중조각상 40주년 수상자 선정…홍순모·문이삭·이현화, 2026.06.16