169 Galleries Gather to Usher In a ‘Spring’ for Korean Art [Weekend Culture]

"The quality and quantity of works by both emerging and established artists are satisfying, and that is why the art fair is doing so well," said an official from the Galleries Association of Korea.
On the 8th, Coex 3rd Floor Halls C and D in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul were packed from the moment the doors opened. Long lines snaked across the entrance, collectors’ eyes moved quickly from booth to booth, and artwork consultations were taking place everywhere. The Galleries Art Fair, the country’s longest-running art fair, once again proved itself to be a barometer for the first-half art market. The 2026 Galleries Art Fair runs from a VIP preview on the 8th through the 12th. Hosted by the Galleries Association of Korea, this year’s edition is the largest ever, with 169 galleries participating, including major players such as Gallery Hyundai, Kukje Gallery, and Hakgojae Gallery.
The signs of success were clear from opening day. Around 4,500 people attended the VIP preview, creating long queues at the entrance. In particular, the noticeable influx of younger collectors pointed to a clear trend of broadening the base of the art market.
A representative from one gallery noted, "From the very first day, we have seen brisk inquiries and transactions, and the results have exceeded our expectations."
The most distinctive feature of this year’s Galleries Art Fair is its stronger focus on artist-centered programming. The "solo booth" section, introduced last year to positive response, has been moved to the main circulation route in Hall C, further raising its profile. Nineteen galleries are participating, each dedicating its booth to a single artist, offering visitors a more concentrated and in-depth viewing experience. Leading players in the Korean art market such as Gana Art, Gallery Hyundai, Kukje Gallery, Hakgojae Gallery, and PKM Gallery are all taking part, along with mid-tier anchors of the scene including Gallery Baton, Gallery Joeun, K.O.N.G Gallery, Geumsan Gallery, Leeahn Gallery, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Art Side Gallery, ATELIER AKI, Wooson Gallery, Leehwaik Gallery, and Pyo Gallery.
A special exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the Galleries Association of Korea is also drawing attention. Through interviews with past association presidents, archival materials, early catalogues, and previously unreleased photographs, it offers a multidimensional look at how the Korean art market has taken shape and grown. By linking past and present, the exhibition goes beyond simple retrospection and is being praised for suggesting directions for the market’s future. The emerging-artist discovery project "ZOOM-IN" is likewise fueling excitement on site. Now in its seventh edition, the program features ten artists: Kim Suyeon, Park Si-wol, Song Daseul, Yoon In-seon, Lee Su-ji, Lee Sina, Lee Jini, Jeong Mijeong, Jung Jin, and Ha Sung-uk. Some works sold quickly right after the opening, reflecting an immediate market response. In particular, a work by Lee Jini was snapped up within ten minutes of being unveiled, drawing considerable interest.The market response overall has been positive. Kukje Gallery sold works by Julian Opie and Kim Yun-shin, each in the tens of millions of won. Numerous deals were also closed at major participating galleries such as Gana Art, Hakgojae Gallery, Gallery Joeun, K.O.N.G Gallery, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Geumsan Gallery, Gallery Bakyoung, and Art Sohyang.
Gana Art, in particular, sold multiple works including a size-100 painting by Moon Hyungtae, while Hakgojae Gallery placed works by Chae Rim. Park Ryu Sook Gallery sold a piece by Patrick Hughes for around 20 million won, and Gallery Bakyoung sold a work by Kang Hee-young for 16 million won. The Columns Gallery sold a size-40 work by Kim Kang Yong; Gallery Joeun sold three works by Seongryul and five by Cho Won-jae; and Art Sohyang sold most of the works it brought by Seongbin Gam. With steady sales ranging from blue-chip artists to emerging names, observers noted that the market appears to be moving in a balanced way.
This year’s Galleries Art Fair is also being praised for the artistic quality of the works on view. Kim Yun-shin’s painting "Light of the Soul 2025-49" (2025), presented by Kukje Gallery, uses geometric patterns such as triangles and circles to rhythmically divide the picture plane. Multiple layers of blue interact in harmony, creating a visual effect that makes the surface seem to vibrate. Visitors can also preview works by Hong Seung-Hye, who is set to hold a solo exhibition at the Kukje Gallery Busan Branch on the 24th. Her work "Frame Type Relief" (2024) is characterized by intentional empty spaces that allow interior and exterior forms to freely intersect. Rather than a fixed final form, the piece highlights a variable "modular rule" in which the composition changes depending on how its elements are combined.
Gallery Joeun is showcasing artists from emerging to mid-career, each proposing different ways to expand the possibilities of contemporary art. One of its leading artists, Yong Rae Kwon, presents works assembled from stainless-steel units that blur the boundaries between painting, sculpture, and installation. The traces of welding left on the metal surface and the light that plays across it change constantly with the viewer’s position, imbuing the work with a sense of time and space. Another key artist, Kim Byung-joo, uses his signature "Ambiguous Wall" series to continually dissolve the boundaries between inside and outside, and between two and three dimensions, depending on the viewer’s perspective and movement, offering a layered visual experience.
K.O.N.G Gallery has also drawn attention with a distinctive booth that combines the essence of Nordic photographic art with the energy of contemporary Korean painting. In the painting section, new works by Jen Pak were unveiled; Pak previously won both the grand prize in the 2023 Galleries Art Fair "ZOOM-IN" program and a special award from Porsche Korea. Pak has been recognized for reinterpreting the metropolis through geometric color and composition based on LEGO forms.
The viewing environment has evolved as well. Starting this year, fully digital tickets and online catalogues have been introduced, improving both visitor convenience and environmental sustainability. On top of that, programs such as the "ART&ARTIST TALK" series, artist talks, and lectures on collecting have turned the fair into a multifaceted cultural platform rather than a simple exhibition. In terms of scale, programming, and market response, this year’s Galleries Art Fair is widely seen as having taken a clear step forward. As a hub where market, culture, and generations intersect, the fair is drawing visitors in large numbers.
Lee Sung-hoon, President of the Galleries Association of Korea, stated, "This year’s Galleries Art Fair marks the 50th anniversary of the association’s founding and serves as a venue connecting the past, present, and future of Korean art," adding, "We will continue to establish it as a key platform that drives the growth of the art market and the spread of a collecting culture."
rsunjun@fnnews.com Yoo Sun-joon Reporter