2025 ARKO Critics Lab Officially Launched.. Discovering Emerging Critics and Expanding Discourse

[Financial News] The Korea Arts and Culture Commission (ARKO) announced on the 14th that it will start the planning project 'ARKO Critics LAB' to discover emerging critics and expand criticism and discourse.
ARKO Critics Lab is a new project promoted by the Arts Commission, adding a social criticism function, following requests from various sectors for a replacement after the Insa Art Space, which was a hub for critics forming discourse in the art world, closed last month.
The ARKO Critics Lab is composed of 8 emerging critics who will carry out research activities. However, unlike the Insa Art Space, no physical base will be designated.
In the 'Space' field, which will address new spatial issues in art, Kim Malgeum and Oh Ji-eun have been selected, while in the 'Art History' field, Park Ye-rin and Shim Ji-hyun have been chosen. In the 'Society' field, Kwon Hye-in and Hwang Ji-won will participate, and in the 'Gender' field, Park Jung-woo and Jin Song-i will be involved.
They will continue joint research and criticism activities, receiving up to 3.5 million won per person over 5 months.
The Arts Commission plans to compile their criticisms into the '2026 Criticism Collection' and publish the joint research results in the official webzine 'A-Square'.
Jung Byung-guk, Chairman of the Korea Arts and Culture Commission, said, "Through the new criticism platform, we will provide growth opportunities for emerging critics and a long-term and autonomous research foundation for mid-level critics."


rsunjun@fnnews.com Yoo Sun-jun Reporter