[Space for All] Yeongju Swimming Pool refreshes rapidly aging town

When Yeongju Swimming Pool opened in 2018, a 74-year-old resident surnamed Kim was so relieved that she could finally swim at a quality facility. “For an older person like myself, swimming is good exercise. This facility is very pleasant and cheap to learn swimming. There is a private swimming facility where I used to go, but it is old and worn out,” Kim said on May 31. Kim has lived in the North Gyeongsang Province city with some 100,000 residents since 1974 after getting married.

Aug. 22, 2023

[Space for All] Seosomun Shrine History Museum revives dead place, invites all

Architecture brings life to a deserted place. And in the case of the 21,000-square-meter park in Seodaemun-gu, northwestern Seoul, it rejuvenated one that had been neglected. The public park had been taken over by homeless people, who drifted in day and night from Seoul Station, about 10 minutes' walk away, until it was remodeled and Seosomun Shrine History Museum was built in the underground space there in 2019. Other people had avoided the park, created in 1973, because of the atmosph

Aug. 21, 2023

Chang Uc-chin's rare 'Family' painting returns from Japan after 60 years

A painting by renowned Korean artist Chang Uc-chin (1917-1990) titled "Family" has returned to South Korea 60 years after Japanese collector Shiozawa Sadao bought it in 1964 at Chang's first solo exhibition in Seoul. The painting, the first piece the artist sold, is known to have been cherished by the artist, who placed the painting by his bedside. With the money he earned by selling the painting, he bought a violin for his daughter. The whereabouts of the painting had been unknow

Aug. 18, 2023

Buoyed by government support, Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul confident of successful second collaboration

The second collaboration between Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul will bring together some 330 galleries from around the world in early September at Ceox, a convention center in southern Seoul, with the festive atmosphere in the city boosted by the city government's support. “Kiaf Seoul will be supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government this year. We had transportation issues for foreigners during the two fairs (Kiaf Seoul and Frieze Seoul) last year, which is expected to be resolved w

Aug. 17, 2023

Hemyeong Kim to present solo show at London's Bonhams

Hemyeong Kim will have a solo exhibition under the title “Hemyeong” at British Auctioneer Bonhams’ headquarters in Mayfair, central London, from Oct. 7 to 13, becoming the first Korean artist to present a solo exhibition at one of the world’s oldest auctioneers. The exhibition will coincide with the Frieze London global art fair from Oct. 11 to 15 in Regent’s Park. Kim’s exhibition at Bonhams’ will feature her “Constellation Links” series, ac

Aug. 15, 2023

British gallery White Cube to kick off inaugural Seoul show in September

White Cube, a leading contemporary gallery, will put up its inaugural show in Seoul, “The Embodied Spirit,” on Sept. 5, coinciding with the upcoming Frieze Seoul and introducing seven artists across the world, including South Korea's own Lee Jin-ju. The gallery will also unveil its space in Seoul with the first exhibition in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. The gallery, its second permanent space in Asia following one in Hong Kong, is located in the first floor of an encased buildi

Aug. 13, 2023

Korean Antique Association chief under investigation for alleged illegal shipping of artifacts to Australia

Yang Eui-sook, chief of the Korean Antique Association, is under police investigation for allegedly violating the cultural properties protection law, transferring some 20 artifacts to an Australian art museum in mid-2022 without permission from the Cultural Heritage Administration. The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed to The Korea Herald Thursday that police raided Yang’s gallery in Seoul last week. “We raided the gallery to collect documents related to Yang’s sen

Aug. 10, 2023

Art Busan secures first round of investment to expand in Seoul

Art Busan has secured the first round of investment ahead of the inaugural launch of its new art fair in Seoul, Define Seoul, in November, after running the art fair in Busan for more than a decade. Art Busan, launched in 2011, has grown into a leading art fair in South Korea, fostering the art scene in the port city with art lovers flocking there every year. The organizer’s expansion into Seoul this year aims to cement its foundation to move forward and grow as a global art market. Whil

Aug. 9, 2023

Art Busan to launch design, art fair in Seoul in November

Art Busan, a leading art fair based in Busan, will expand to Seoul, launching Define Seoul, a new art fair that combines design and art. The five-day fair will kick off Nov.1 in Seongsu-dong under the theme of “A Look Within Matter,” led by artistic director Yang Teo. Yang was selected as one of the world’s top 100 designers by Architectural Digest, a leading US magazine of architecture and interior design. Yang directed the 17th edition of the Craft Trend Fair held last Dece

Aug. 8, 2023

Seoul Architecture Awards 2023's grand prize goes to LG Arts Center

The LG Arts Center and LG Discovery Lab, designed by Tadao Ando Architect & Associates and Gansam, snatched the grand prize of the Seoul Architecture Awards 2023, according to the organizer on Thursday. The building, located in Gangseo-gu, western Seoul, opened its doors to the public in October 2022. The LG Arts Center was relocated to the current space after 22 years in Gangnam, southern Seoul. The architecture nestled in Seoul Botanic Park houses the LG Arts Center and LG Discovery Lab, f

Aug. 4, 2023

[Photo News] Pioneering painter Na Hye-sok's rare photographs donated to Suwon Museum of Art

Photographs of Na Hye-sok (1897–1948), a Korean artist and writer who advocated for women's rights during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945) of the Korean Peninsula, were donated to the Suwon Museum of Art in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. The photographs were taken when Na was staying in Le Vesinet, France in 1928 for three months at the home of French philosopher Felicien Challaye (1875-1967), to attend the Ranson Academy under French artist Roger Bissiere (1886-1964). The donation of

Aug. 4, 2023

Sanji Gallery to relocate to Samcheong-dong

Sanji Gallery will relocate from Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, to a larger space in Samcheong-dong in October, to strengthen its programs and artist lineup. The Samcheong-dong space had been occupied by French gallery Perrotin since 2016. Perrotin closed the space in June, but continued to operate its other space in Seoul, Perrotin Dosan Park in southern Seoul. “With the newly expanded space, we will put full efforts to promote Korean artists to the international art community,” sai

Aug. 1, 2023

[Herald Review] How Kim Beom overhauls our habitual thoughts at Leeum Museum of Art

Conceptual artist Kim Beom’s works leave one in contemplation. His humorous and satirical works seem to say: “What you see is not all of what you see.” The exhibition, “How to become a rock,” at the Leeum Museum of Art through Dec. 3, is an excellent one for those who hope to experience art that provokes thought and questions, beyond merely being visually appealing. Kim is little known to the average public. "How to become a rock" at the Leeum Museum of Ar

July 30, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] Writing or art? Hangeul inspires artists

The following series is part of The Korea Herald’s “Hello Hangeul” project which consists of interviews, in-depth analyses, videos and various other forms of content that shed light on the stories of people who are learning the Korean language and the correlation between Korea’s soft power and the rise of its language within the league of world languages. – Ed. Letters and paintings used to go hand in hand historically -- Korean literati in the Joseon era (1392-19

July 30, 2023

Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul to open in 2025

The Hanwha Foundation of Culture and the Centre Pompidou in France have officially finalized a deal to establish and operate a Pompidou branch in Seoul, the cultural arm of Hanwha Group said Friday. The announcement follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a partnership by the two parties in France on March 19. The parties have been discussing the outlines of the basic framework for the establishment and operation of the art center at 63 Square -- more commonly known as 63 Buildi

July 28, 2023

Frieze, Kiaf Seoul to present variety of events in September beyond art fair

Frieze Seoul has unveiled the program for its fair, bringing together film, music, talks, exhibitions and other events in the heart of the city, from Sept. 6 to 9 at Coex in southern Seoul. Launched for the first time in Asia in 2022, the global art fair is set to return with a variety of programs on the sidelines of the main event, which will host some 120 galleries hoping to meet collectors in the Asian market. This year's fair will host a number of galleries from Asia, accounting for 4

July 27, 2023

South Korean art market more volatile than global market: report

South Korea's art auction market almost halved in the first half of this year, demonstrating greater volatility compared to the global art market, a report from the Korea Art Authentication and Appraisal Research Center showed Monday. The total amount of winning bids at South Korean auction houses Seoul Auction, K-auction and Myart Auction amounted to 61.3 billion won ($47.9 million) in the first half of 2023, a 47 percent decline from the same period of the preceding year, even though th

July 25, 2023

Modern architectural legacy renewed at French Embassy in Seoul

The French Embassy in Korea has been known as a masterpiece that displays Korean aesthetics and the exterior form of which is reminiscent of "cheoma," Korea’s traditional overhanging eaves that gently curve upwards. The embassy building, designed by pioneering Korean modern architect Kim Chung-up, has stood near Chungjeongno in central Seoul since its completion in 1962. Following a five-year revamp, the building has been reborn with both a renovation and two newly built building

July 25, 2023

[Photo News] Artworks on view for travelers at Gimpo International Airport

Artworks are on view at Gimpo International Airport, offering an opportunity to appreciate Korea’s contemporary art during a layover at the airport. The exhibition “Be Free” kicked off on Friday joined by five artists – Paik Nam-june, Sheen Yi-chul, Jang Seung-hyo, Lee Lee-nam and Oh Dong-hoon, featuring sculptures and media art. Running through Oct.22, the exhibition shows a total of nine works across the third floor of the airport. The exhibition is supported by Ministr

July 22, 2023

Controversy over Chun Kyung-ja's painting reignites after court rules against painter's family

The bereaved family of Korea’s pioneering female artist, Chun Kyung-ja, lost a legal battle against prosecutors Friday, after the Seoul Central District Court ruled against Chun's daughter's claims that prosecutors damaged Chun's honor by spreading false information about the painting “Beautiful Woman.” The Seoul Central District Court disagreed with Kim Jeong-hee, who made the claim four years ago that the artist and her family should be compensated 100 million

July 21, 2023