In September 2025, Seoul once again draws the attention of the global art world. Marking its 24th edition at COEX, Kiaf SEOUL 2025 adopts ‘Resonance’ as its theme. The fair emphasizes not just market expansion but the creation of deeper structures through the shared reverberations of artists, galleries, and institutions.

‘Highlights’ and《Reverse Cabinet》: Defining the Fair

Two programs shape Kiaf’s character this year: Kiaf Highlights and the special exhibition 《Reverse Cabinet》.
 
‘Highlight’s shines a spotlight on emerging artists, providing institutional recognition and functioning as a mechanism to nurture the next generation in an uncertain market. More than simple discovery, it offers a barometer of how Korean art engages with international perspectives. Support and visibility for young artists strengthen trust in galleries and, in the long term, reinforce the resilience of the market.

《Reverse Cabinet》, on the other hand, represents a rare critical experiment within the commercial context of an art fair. By inverting the exhibition language of “collecting and displaying,” Kiaf positions itself not just as a marketplace but as a site for discourse production. This initiative goes beyond a Korea–Japan cultural exchange, signaling Seoul’s ambition to become a hub for East Asian art discourse.

Ripple Effects and an Expanded Stage

Together, ‘Highlights’ and《Reverse Cabinet》outline Kiaf’s future direction. One symbolizes generational renewal and sustainability, the other critical discourse and experimentation. Their convergence creates a dual axis—'future + discourse’—that redefines Kiaf as more than a marketplace.
 
This structure is amplified by its simultaneous hosting with Frieze, the expansion of Seoul Art Week, and the citywide programs that elevate Seoul from a site of consumption to a hub of cultural production. Initiatives such as MediaArt SEOUL, Neighborhood Nights, and airport exhibitions integrate art into the everyday fabric of the city, presenting a new model of engagement with urban life.


 
A Turning Point Amid Market Slowdown

The Korean art market is facing difficulties. In the first half of the year, total auction sales reached only 55.7 billion KRW—less than half of two years ago—with large-scale transactions nearly disappearing. As the market structure leans increasingly toward mid- and lower-priced works, galleries are experiencing growing strain.

Yet Kiaf’s direction remains clear: nurture new artists, generate discourse, and expand the stage to the entire city. This is not simply a strategy for enduring the downturn but a practical experiment in opening new global markets.


 
From Resonance to Leap

Kiaf SEOUL 2025 is more than an art fair. It marks a turning point where trust, ecosystem circulation, and global expansion are pursued simultaneously. ‘Highlights’ points to the future,《Reverse Cabinet》opens discourse, and Seoul itself becomes the stage.
 
As the theme ‘Resonance’ suggests, Korean art is no longer a solitary bell tolling in isolation. By resonating together, it generates larger waves—waves that carry the potential to unlock new possibilities in the global art world. Beyond a stagnant domestic market, Kiaf is positioning itself as a platform for a leap onto the international stage.