Delivering essential Korean contemporary art news every week.
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Artist_News Artist Ikjung Cho, Who Explores Violence in Society and the Individual, Wins 17th DOOSAN Yonkang Art Award
On the 13th, the DOOSAN Yonkang Foundation announced artist Ikjung Cho as the recipient of the Visual Arts Award at the 17th DOOSAN Yonkang Art Award ceremony. Established in 2010, the DOOSAN Yonkang Art Award supports promising artists under the age of 40 in the performing and visual arts. As of 2026, a total of 48 artists and groups have received the award across these fields.
Nonprofit_News Busan Metropolitan City Halts Pompidou Center Branch Project
The Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, has decided to halt the Pompidou Center Busan branch project. The announcement marks the first follow-up measure to a commitment made at a town hall meeting on September 30, where Mayor Jeon stated, “What we hear today will shape Busan’s cultural policy.”
Artist_News Artist Ikjung Cho, Who Explores Violence in Society and the Individual, Wins 17th DOOSAN Yonkang Art Award
On the 13th, the DOOSAN Yonkang Foundation announced artist Ikjung Cho as the recipient of the Visual Arts Award at the 17th DOOSAN Yonkang Art Award ceremony. Established in 2010, the DOOSAN Yonkang Art Award supports promising artists under the age of 40 in the performing and visual arts. As of 2026, a total of 48 artists and groups have received the award across these fields.
2026.10.20
Artist_News Documentary on Kim Yun Shin, One of Korea’s First-Generation Female Sculptors, to Premiere at the Busan International Film Festival
Kim Yun Shin Punches In, a documentary exploring the life and artistic practice of Kim Yun Shin, one of Korea’s first-generation female sculptors, made its world premiere at the 31st Busan International Film Festival. Directed by Sun-ae Lim, the feature-length documentary Kim Yun Shin Punches In was unveiled as a world premiere at the Wide Angle Documentary Showcase of the Busan International Film Festival, which opened on October 6, ahead of its official theatrical release in 2027.
2026.10.13
Artist_News Media Artist Ayoung Kim Receives the 38th Lee Jung-seop Art Award
Korean contemporary media artist Ayoung Kim has been selected as the recipient of the 38th Lee Jung-seop Art Award. Kim has attracted significant attention in the Korean and international art worlds through her active presentation of works that fuse science-fiction (SF) imagination with media technologies.
2026.09.29
Artist_News Citizens Unite to Save Oh Yoon's Terracotta Relief from Demolition
A terracotta work by Oh Yoon (1946–1986), a pioneering figure of Korean Minjung art, has been discovered after remaining hidden for nearly half a century inside the Woori Bank building in Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. However, the work now faces the threat of being lost due to the building's impending demolition.
Artist_News Kim Kulim Demolishes the PlaceMAK Building in a Radical Performance
On June 24, pioneering Korean experimental artist Kim Kulim staged a radical performance by demolishing the PlaceMAK 2 building in Seoul's Yeonhui-dong and installing a monumental spherical inflatable sculpture atop its ruins. The 90-year-old artist arrived at PlaceMAK 2—the venue of his latest solo exhibition—accompanied by an excavator and a team of demolition workers. Despite his limited mobility, the artist directed the demolition performance with hand gestures, signaling the workers to tear down the building's roof and walls and clear away the rubble..
Museum_News Buk SeMA Presents 'Dancing Family,' Experiencing the Museum Through Movement and Dance
Buk-Seoul Museum of Art (Buk SeMA) will present Poland’s family-oriented dance program ‘Dancing Family’ in Korea for the first time. The Buk SeMA, which has continued to develop a range of programs designed to help children and families become more familiar with museums, offers a new way of experiencing the museum through movement and dance with this program. The program will take place from October 15 to 17.
2026.10.13
Museum_News MMCA Cheongju Open Storage Undergoes Major Overhaul
Following a major overhaul, the open storage at MMCA Cheongju welcomes visitors with a refreshed presentation. As Korea’s first art museum dedicated to open storage, MMCA Cheongju opened in December 2018, making its storage facilities—a core part of the museum—accessible to the public.
Museum_News Buk-Seoul Museum of Art Becomes First Korean Museum to Receive CIMAM’s Outstanding Museum Practice Award
The Seoul Museum of Art announced that Parallel Views: Art in Conversation, an accessibility program developed by Buk-Seoul Museum of Art (Buk SeMA), has received the 2026 Outstanding Museum Practice Award (OMPA), presented by CIMAM, the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art.
2026.09.29
Museum_News Museum Hanmi, Korea’s First Photography Museum, Opens Branch in Gimpo
On the 11th, Museum Hanmi, Korea’s first museum dedicated to photography, opened a new space at 201-25 Gahyeon-ro, Tongjin-eup, Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. As its name, Gahyeon-ri (佳峴里, meaning “beautiful hill”), suggests, Museum Hanmi Gimpo is situated on a hill and consists of the traditional Korean hanok Gahyeonheon, a garden that captures the changing seasons, and the Jerry Uelsmann Memorial Hall, where visitors can experience the artistic world of Jerry Uelsmann in its entirety.
Nonprofit_News Busan Metropolitan City Halts Pompidou Center Branch Project
The Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, has decided to halt the Pompidou Center Busan branch project. The announcement marks the first follow-up measure to a commitment made at a town hall meeting on September 30, where Mayor Jeon stated, “What we hear today will shape Busan’s cultural policy.”
2026.10.20
Nonprofit_News 'DOOSAN ART LAB', Emerging Artist Program, Shifts to Biennial Format
DOOSAN Art Center announced that ‘DOOSAN ART LAB Visual Arts’ will adopt a new format beginning with this year’s open call. Since its launch in 2015, DOOSAN ART LAB Visual Arts has identified and supported promising emerging artists in the field of visual arts, providing a foundation for them to advance their practices. To date, 49 artists who have participated in DOOSAN ART LAB have established distinctive artistic practices and continued to actively engage with the contemporary art scene.
2026.09.22
Nonprofit_News VH Award Announces Five Finalists for Its 7th Edition
On September 15, the final selections for the 7th VH Award, a media art competition organized by Hyundai Motor Group, were announced. The VH AWARD is a platform that supports the artistic challenges and experimental practices of next-generation artists who reinterpret Asian cultural, historical, and emotional contexts through the language of contemporary media art.
2026.09.22
Nonprofit_News Hermès Foundation Missulsang Launches Digital Archive Spanning 25 Years
On September 1, the Hermès Foundation unveiled a digital archive commemorating the 20th edition of the Hermès Foundation Missulsang, titled Memories for the Future: 25 Years of Hermès Foundation Missulsang. Since 2000, the Missulsang has sought out and supported new practices and experiments in Korean contemporary art.
2026.09.15
Nonprofit_News ‘Nuhwa Contemporary’ Opens as a New International Cultural Platform Connecting Asia and the Gulf Region
On September 1, Nuhwa Contemporary, a new international cultural platform based in Seoul and Abu Dhabi that connects Asia and the Gulf region, opened its doors in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The name “Nuhwa” combines “Nuha”–refined intellect–and “Hawa”–creative impulse. Bringing ideas together, Nuhwa embraces artistic experimentation as a catalyst for new narratives and exchange.
2026.09.08
Nonprofit_News Samsung Ho-Am Prize Raises Award to KRW 500 Million, Strengthening Its Global Standing
The Ho-Am Foundation (Chairman: Hwang Sik Kim) announced that beginning next year, the prize money awarded to recipients of the Samsung Ho-Am Prize will be substantially increased from the current KRW 300 million to KRW 500 million per recipient. As a result, the total prize money across the six categories will rise from KRW 1.8 billion to KRW 3 billion.
Biennale_News Binna Choi Appointed as Artistic Director for the 61st Venice Biennale Korean Pavilion
The Arts Council Korea (ARKO) has appointed curator Binna Choi as the Artistic Director for the Korean Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale) in 2026.
Binna Choi previously served as a curator for the 2016 Gwangju Biennale and as a co-artistic director for the 2022 Singapore Biennale. She was the Director of Casco Art Institute in the Netherlands from 2008 to 2023. She is currently serving as a co-artistic director for the Hawai‘i Triennial 2025, which runs until May 4 this year.
Biennale_News 2025 Sea Art Festival to Be Held Under Joint Artistic Directorship for the First Time
On February 26, the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee announced the artistic directors who will lead the 2025 Sea Art Festival. For the first time in the festival’s history, three co-artistic directors have been appointed: Keumhwa Kim, Bernard Vienat, and Sara Kim.
Art Market_News South Korea’s MCST Plans to Implement Art Policies for the Continued Growth of the Korean Art Market, Which Exceeded 1 Trillion KRW in 2022
Over the past year, many local experts predicted that the size of the Korean art market would surpass 1 trillion KRW (Korean won) in 2022. This speculation has turned out to be true, as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) announced on January 4, 2023, that the size of the art market in 2022 was estimated to be 1.0377 trillion KRW (approximately $1 billion USD).
Gallery_News Hannam Saturdays: A New Initiative Connecting Hannam-dong’s Art Landscape
On June 13, Hannam-dong in Seoul’s Yongsan District was transformed into a vibrant site of artistic exchange. The inaugural edition of ‘Hannam Saturdays,’ a new collaborative program organized by twelve galleries located throughout the neighborhood, made its debut.
2026.06.16
Gallery_News Gladstone Seoul Will Move to a Larger Venue in Seoul’s Hannam-dong in the Summer of 2026
Gladstone has announced the expansion and relocation of its Seoul gallery to a new space in Hannam-dong, one of the city’s leading arts and cultural districts, later this summer. This move is particularly notable as it establishes a new foothold in Hannam-dong, an area densely populated with major institutions such as the Leeum Museum of Art, as well as prominent local and international galleries. With a growing number of global galleries—including Esther Schipper—relocating to the neighborhood, Hannam-dong is rapidly emerging as a key hub in Seoul’s art market. Through this expansion, Gladstone aims to further strengthen its presence in Asia.
Gallery_News Korea’s First Sculpture-Dedicated Gallery ‘Space Tone’ Opens in Hapjeong, Seoul
Korea’s first sculpture- dedicated gallery, Space Tone (S.tone), has opened in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. While most sculpture-dedicated venues in Korea are located on the outskirts of Seoul due to the scale and weight of the works, Space Tone stands out as a space situated in the heart of the city—offering visitors the opportunity to encounter sculpture naturally in their everyday lives.
2025.11.18
Gallery_News Five Young Galleries to Watch in Seoul, Picked by ARTnews
On September 1, ARTnews, the American art magazine, spotlighted five emerging Seoul galleries to watch. Unlike the city’s more traditional galleries, these new spaces stand out for their distinctive sense of place and independent programs. The ARTnews highlighted PS CENTER, WWNN, Shower, Sangheeut, and Xlarge.
Auction_News Seoul Auction to Host ‘Connect Seoul 2024’ During Frieze·Kiaf Seoul Week
Seoul Auctions hosts ‘Connect Seoul 2024,’ a series of exhibitions and events from August 24 to September 13 at its Gangnam Center, to coincide with Frieze-Kiaf Seoul Week. Connect Seoul consists of two special exhibitions highlighting major Korean and international artists of modern and contemporary art, a group exhibition of media art, and a preview of upcoming auctions.
2024.09.03
Auction_News SBI Art Auction to Host Its First Overseas Auction Preview at Art Chosun Space in Seoul
Japan’s SBI Art Auction will present its first overseas auction preview, "Early Highlight Viewing in Seoul," from October 1 to 6 at Art Chosun Space (ACS) in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The preview is part of the "68th SBI Art Auction | MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART" to be held on October 25 and 26.
2024.08.13
Auction_News Global Auction House Phillips Appoints Lim Yeon-ah to Lead the Korean office
On the 5th, Phillips, one of the world’s top three auction houses, appointed Lim Yeon-ah as the head of its Korean office.
Since joining Phillips in 2020, she has overseen Phillips exhibitions during the Frieze Seoul art fair over the past two years.
Auction_News Christie’s First Exhibition in South Korea, What Does This Mean for the Local Art Market?
The booming Korean art market attracts many international art galleries and art fairs to Seoul. World-renowned galleries, including König Galerie, Thaddeus Ropac, and Gladstone Gallery, have opened a branch in Seoul, and Frieze has partnered with Kiaf SEOUL to hold art fairs in Seoul for five years from this year.
Art Fair_News Highlights to Watch at ‘Kiaf SEOUL 2025’
From September 3 to 7, Kiaf SEOUL 2025, the largest art fair in Korea, will take place at COEX in Seoul. This year’s edition brings together 175 galleries from over 20 countries.
2025.09.02
Art Fair_News 10 Must-See Artists Selected by ‘Frieze Seoul 2025’
At Frieze Seoul 2025, a wide range of solo presentations will unfold across the Galleries, Focus Asia, and Masters sections. The fair will not only highlight the breadth of historically significant artists’ careers but also spotlight bold new works and large-scale installations by emerging talents.
2025.09.02
Art Fair_News An Open Platform for Artistic Discourse at ‘Kiaf·Frieze Seoul 2025’
At Korea’s largest art fairs, Kiaf·Frieze Seoul 2025, an open platform for artistic discourse, the “Kiaf x KAMS x Frieze Seoul Talk Program”, will take place from September 4 to 6 at Studio 159 on the 2nd floor of COEX, Seoul.
2025.09.02
Art Fair_News How to Enjoy ‘Frieze Seoul 2025’ to the Fullest
The fourth edition of the Frieze Seoul returns to COEX in the city’s Gangnam neighbourhood from 3 – 6 September, and, in keeping with previous editions, will feature an expansive programme of live art and performance, film, talks and artist projects alongside presentations from 120 galleries.
2025.08.26
Art Fair_News ‘Kiaf SEOUL 2025’ to Unfold as a Vibrant Art Festival
Kiaf SEOUL 2025, Korea’s largest art fair, will take place from Wednesday, September 3 to Sunday, September 7 at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul. During Kiaf Art Week, Kiaf will collaborate with Frieze Seoul as well as domestic and international art institutions to present a wide range of programs, offering audiences a unique opportunity to engage with art.
2025.08.26
Art Fair_News Korean Galleries Make Strong Statement at Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 Amid Market Slowdown
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.
Art+_News 2026 DMZ OPEN Festival Opens, Tracing the Flow of Peace in a Cold War Zones
Gyeonggi Province is hosting the ‘2026 DMZ OPEN Festival’ from October 12 to November 29 at Paju Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri and locations across Goyang. Under the theme “Open the Line, Connect the Life,” this year’s festival seeks to open the Line of the DMZ, a symbol of division and borders, to connect people with one another and everyday life with the wider world, creating new currents of peace.
2026.10.13
Art+_News Seoul Performing Arts Festival 2026 Opens October 8, Exploring a Multiverse of Interconnected Arts
The 26th Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF 2026) will take place over 18 days, from October 8 to 25, at major performance venues across Seoul, including the National Theater of Korea, SFAC Theater QUAD, and ARKO·Daehakro Arts Theater. Started in 2001, the Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF) is the longest-running international performing arts festival in Korea. SPAF is held for one month in Autumn in Daehangno and nearby areas in Seoul.
Art+_News Seojung Art CEO Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Art Investment Ponzi Scheme
Lee, the head of the prominent Korean gallery Seojung Art, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in a first-instance ruling after being charged in connection with an approximately KRW 100 billion “art-tech” Ponzi scheme. An art-tech Ponzi scheme is a form of financial fraud in which investments in artworks are used as bait to attract new investors, whose funds are then used to pay returns to earlier investors.
2026.07.28
Art+_News 26th Seoul International New Media Festival Announces 50 Finalists for Its Competition Section
The 26th Seoul International New Media Festival (NeMAF 2026), taking place from August 21 to 26, has officially announced the 50 finalists selected for this year's Competition Section. As Asia's longest-running international alternative film festival and Korea's only genre-defying festival dedicated to moving image art that transcends the boundaries of film, art, and technology, NeMAF received a total of 635 submissions this year, including 407 works for the Korean New Works section, 173 for the Glocal New Works section, and 55 for the New Media section.
