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Artist_News Yagwang Wins the Frieze Seoul Artist Award 2026
Seoul-based artist collective Yagwang has been named as the winner of the 2026 Frieze Seoul Artist Award. Supported by Bvlgari for the fourth consecutive year, the award spotlights and supports Korea’s talents at a pivotal stage in their careers. The winner is invited to realize an ambitious new commission on-site at Frieze Seoul, which takes place this year at COEX, 2 – 5 September 2026
2026.06.16
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
Biennale_News 16th Gwangju Biennale Announces 43 Participating Artists, Highlighting Diverse Generational and Regional Voices
The Gwangju Biennale Foundation today announced the 43 participating artists and groups selected for the 16th Gwangju Biennale. The roster, selected by Artistic Director Ho Tzu Nyen together with curators Park Gahee, Brian Kuan Wood, and Che Kyongfa, brings together voices from diverse generations and regions. Through their sustained artistic practices, the participating artists explore how new possibilities and ways of living emerge and take shape.
Artist_News Yagwang Wins the Frieze Seoul Artist Award 2026
Seoul-based artist collective Yagwang has been named as the winner of the 2026 Frieze Seoul Artist Award. Supported by Bvlgari for the fourth consecutive year, the award spotlights and supports Korea’s talents at a pivotal stage in their careers. The winner is invited to realize an ambitious new commission on-site at Frieze Seoul, which takes place this year at COEX, 2 – 5 September 2026
2026.06.16
Artist_News Artist Yo-E Ryou Wins the ‘2026 ILWOO Art Award’
The Ilwoo Foundation, a public interest foundation under the Hanjin Group, announced that artist Yo-E Ryou has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 ILWOO Art Award. Hanjin Group established the ILWOO Photo Award in 2009 and, through thirteen editions of the competition held until 2022, supported 36 photographers. Beginning in 2024, the award was reorganized and relaunched under the new title of the ILWOO Art Award.
2026.05.19
Artist_News Artist Jongjin Park Wins the ‘Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2026’
Jongjin Park has been selected as the final winner of the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2026.
Established in 2016, the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize was launched with the aim of carrying forward the spirit of craftsmanship rooted in Loewe, which began as a leather workshop in 1846. Now in its eleventh edition, the award has played a significant role in repositioning craft within contemporary artistic discourse by highlighting works that reinterpret traditional craft techniques through each artist’s own distinctive methods.
2026.05.19
Artist_News J. Park Solo Exhibition Successfully Concludes as Korea’s First Guest-of-Honor Project at ‘Art Düsseldorf’
One of Germany’s leading contemporary art events, Art Düsseldorf, invited Korea as its Guest of Honor for the first time in its history and presented a solo exhibition by artist J. Park. Marking the first official partnership to spotlight Korean contemporary art, the exhibition concluded successfully on the 19th.
2026.04.28
Artist_News Dansaekhwa Master Ha Chong-Hyun’s First Major North American Retrospective to Open This September
《Ha Chong-Hyun: Retrospective》, on view September 25, 2026–January 25, 2027, at the Asian Art Museum, is the first major North American museum exhibition by pioneering Korean contemporary artist Ha Chong-Hyun. This exhibition also marks the first solo presentation by a Korean artist at the Asian Art Museum.
Museum_News Art Center Nabi Reopens on June 11 Following Its Independent Move to Sagan-dong
On June 11, Art Center Nabi, Korea’s first museum dedicated to media art, will begin a new chapter under the direction of Noh So-Young, relocating from the SK Group headquarters to an independent building in Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
2026.06.09
Museum_News Invoking Nam June Paik’s Questions Through Gut: Pre-Performance for the 1st Nam June Paik Media Art Festival
On June 1, the Nam June Paik Art Center presented the pre-performance How Can One Know Life Without Knowing Death? as part of the 1st Nam June Paik Media Art Festival. How Can One Know Life Without Knowing Death? is a ritual taking place 49 days before the anniversary of Nam June Paik’s death, which marks its 20th year this year. In another sense, it may also be understood as the reenactment — 36 years later — of the gut performance Paik staged on July 20, 1990 in memory of Joseph Beuys.
2026.06.02
Museum_News ‘Centre Pompidou Hanwha’ Holds Opening Ceremony: “A Cultural Hub Connecting Korea and the World Through Art”
Hanwha Group has brought the world-renowned contemporary art museum Centre Pompidou’s third international outpost to Seoul. Hanwha Foundation of Culture announced on the 19th that it held the opening ceremony for Centre Pompidou Hanwha at the 63 Building in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The newly opened Centre Pompidou Hanwha becomes the third Pompidou museum following those in Málaga, Spain, and Shanghai West Bund, China.
2026.05.26
Museum_News MMCA and the SFMOMA Sign MOU Establishing Partnership to Bolster Cross-Cultural Exchange
On April 22, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA; Director Kim Sunghee) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA; Director Christopher Bedford) to strengthen collaboration across exhibitions, collections, research, and educational programs.
Museum_News ‘Centre Pompidou Hanwha’ to Open on June 4 with Inaugural Cubism Exhibition
The Centre Pompidou Hanwha, established through a partnership between the Hanwha Foundation of Culture and France’s Centre Pompidou, is set to open this June at the 63 Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Following the completion of construction in late February, the museum will undergo interior installation and final preparations before welcoming visitors starting June 4.
Nonprofit_News Kim Tschang-yeul’s Former Residence to Open as a Public Art Space on May 29
The former residence and studio in Pyeongchang-dong where Kim Tschang-yeul lived and worked for more than thirty years will open to the public on May 29 as a new public art space titled ‘Kim Tschang-yeul Atelier.’ The first floor will house a special exhibition gallery, the basement level will serve as an archive room, and the second basement floor will recreate the artist’s studio and library.
2026.05.26
Nonprofit_News DOOSAN Yonkang Foundation Announces First Sponsorship of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
The DOOSAN Yonkang Foundation (Chairman Park Yong-hyun) is participating as a sponsor of the Korean Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, held at the Giardini in Venice, Italy, from May 9 to November 22 local time. This year, the Korean Pavilion takes “Liberated Space” as its theme, examining the political events and historical transitional periods of Korean society from liberation in 1945 to the present day. The exhibition is directed by Artistic Director Binna Choi, with Hyeree Ro and Goen Choi participating as exhibiting artists. In addition, novelist Han Kang, farmer and activist Huju Kim, artist and musician Lang Lee, photographer Yezoi Hwang, and artist Christian Nyampeta are participating as fellows.
2026.05.19
Nonprofit_News International Media Art Festival “EMAP 2026” Opens on May 11
Ewha Womans University will host the international media art festival “EMAP (Ewha Media Art Presentation) 2026” across its campus from May 11 to 16, commemorating the university’s 140th anniversary. The program will include a range of events such as exhibitions, performances, and outdoor screenings.
2026.05.05
Nonprofit_News Korean Performances Officially Invited to the 2026 Festival d’Avignon After 28 Years
As Korean has been selected as the guest language of the 80th Festival d’Avignon, the festival’s board announced on the 8th that a total of nine works by seven Korean performing arts groups have been selected for the official program (IN). This marks the first time in approximately 28 years that Korean works have been officially invited, since “Désir d’Asie” in 1998.
2026.04.21
Nonprofit_News International Symposium to Mark the 20th Anniversary of Nam June Paik’s Passing
International Symposium to Mark the 20th Anniversary of Nam June Paik’s Passing
The Arts Council Korea (ARKO), in collaboration with the Nam June Paik Art Center, will co-host the international academic symposium 《Paik After Paik》 on April 23 at the main theater of the ARKO Arts Theater in Seoul.
Biennale_News 16th Gwangju Biennale Announces 43 Participating Artists, Highlighting Diverse Generational and Regional Voices
The Gwangju Biennale Foundation today announced the 43 participating artists and groups selected for the 16th Gwangju Biennale. The roster, selected by Artistic Director Ho Tzu Nyen together with curators Park Gahee, Brian Kuan Wood, and Che Kyongfa, brings together voices from diverse generations and regions. Through their sustained artistic practices, the participating artists explore how new possibilities and ways of living emerge and take shape.
2026.06.16
Biennale_News Gwangju Biennale Shifts to Open Call for Artistic Director for the First Time in Its 30-Year History
The Gwangju Biennale Foundation has announced an open call for the Artistic Director of the 17th Gwangju Biennale. Until now, the Artistic Director of the Gwangju Biennale has been selected through a recommendation-based system, in which a final candidate was chosen from a pool of nominees put forward by a small group of advisors. As a result, the position has often been filled by internationally renowned figures invited through this process.
2026.06.09
Biennale_News Lee Janghwan Appointed Artistic Director of the Korean Pavilion at the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale
The Arts Council Korea (ARKO) has appointed Lee Janghwan, founder of Urban Operations, as the Artistic Director of the Korean Pavilion for the 20th International Architecture Exhibition of the 2027 Venice Biennale. Lee Janghwan’s practice engages broadly with the fields of urbanism, culture, and architecture. He previously worked as an architect at OMA, where he participated in the design of the Qatar National Library and contributed to numerous projects across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
2026.06.09
Biennale_News Resonating Together Through Dissonance: 2026 Busan Biennale Reveals Exhibition Structure
The Busan Biennale Organizing Committee held a press briefing on May 27 to unveil the major curatorial framework for the 2026 Busan Biennale, including 44 participating artists and collectives (47 individuals in total) from 23 countries, as well as the exhibition venues. Led by co-artistic directors Evelyn Simons and Amal Khalaf, the biennale will take place from August 29 to November 1 under the title 《Dissident Chorus》. The 65-day exhibition will unfold across Busan Museum of Contemporary Art, Space Wonji, and the former Busan Nam High School.
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 'Galleries Art Fair 2024’, a Barometer of the Korean Art Market, Opens April 3
The Galleries Art Fair 2024 will be held from April 3 to 7, starting with a VIP preview on April 3, at Coex Hall C and D. Organized by the Galleries Association of Korea, the Galleries Art Fair is the longest-running art fair in Korea with a rich history and tradition of 42 years. It is a large-scale art fair that opens every year and serves as a barometer of the Korean art market.
Art Fair_News The Design-Focused New Art Fair ‘Define Seoul’ Will Open on the 1st of November
The upcoming art fair Define Seoul, presented by Art Busan, one of South Korea’s most prominent art fairs, will take place from the 1st to the 5th of next month in the Seongsu-dong area of Seoul. Define Seoul, which combined “design and fine art” to produce its name, seeks to redefine the way art is perceived and engaged with.
Art+_News Publication of “Jeong: The Spirit of Korean Craft and Design,” the First Book Tracing the Trajectory of Korean Craft and Design
The internationally renowned art publisher Phaidon has recently released the English-language publication “Jeong: The Spirit of Korean Craft and Design,” a book that explores the aesthetics of Korean craft and design. “Jeong: The Spirit of Korean Craft and Design” is the first comprehensive volume to examine the full spectrum of Korean design—from traditional craft to contemporary practice—offering a visually rich account of its creativity, sustainability, and functional beauty.
2026.05.12
Art+_News Galleries Associations of Korea & Gwangju Biennale Sign MOU to Advance the Globalization of Korean Art
The Galleries Association of Korea (Chairman Sunghoon Lee) and the Gwangju Biennale Foundation (President Youn Bummo) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on February 6, 2026 (Friday), formally launching a collaborative partnership to expand the presence of Korean art both domestically and internationally and to strengthen global exchange.
2026.02.17
Art+_News Art Service Industry Reporting System to Take Effect This July
With the enforcement of the Art Promotion Act, South Korea’s art distribution sector—previously operated as a free profession without separate qualification requirements—will be incorporated into a formal regulatory framework starting this year.
2026.01.13
Art+_News First Overseas Exhibition of the “Lee Kun-hee Collection” Surpasses 15,000 Visitors Within One Month of Opening
Titled 《Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared》, the first overseas touring exhibition of the Lee Kun-hee Collection—donated by the late Lee Kun-hee, former chairman of Samsung Group—has attracted strong local interest, surpassing 15,000 visitors within its first month since opening at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C.
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