Checking on Current South Korean Art Markets: Commercial Galleries, Alternative Spaces, Curatorship

Since Frieze’s arrival in Seoul in 2022, international interest in the South Korean art market has surged, pushing local commercial galleries to engage more actively on the global stage and spotlighting Korean artists abroad. This heightened attention has also led independent art spaces to reconsider their roles, prompting questions about how to remain experimental, community-focused, and true to their independent spirit amidst increasing commercialization. Curators, too, are reflecting on the purpose and ethics of curation within a profit-driven market, exploring ways to balance artistic vision with economic realities. This panel will examine the far-reaching effects of global interest in South Korea’s art scene on diverse players—including commercial galleries, alternative spaces, and curators—and discuss how these shifts might shape the future of the South Korean art landscape in global world.

This panel is moderated by 2024 Guest Curator Jungmin Cho and features Suyoung Lee, Inseon Kim, and Jeppe Ugelvig, and recorded at Untitled Art, Miami Beach on December 4, 2024.