Seoul Art Fairs Highlight Global Artistic Powerhouse

Major Art Fairs in Seoul Conclude with Record Attendance

The two largest art fairs in the country, Kiaf Seoul and Frieze Seoul, recently wrapped up their events over the weekend, attracting a large number of visitors and showcasing the growing significance of these exhibitions on the global art scene. The fairs took place from Wednesday to Sunday, with Frieze Seoul closing one day earlier. During this time, approximately 70,000 to 80,000 visitors from 48 different countries attended both events, which were held at the COEX exhibition center in southern Seoul.

The opening days featured exclusive previews that drew attention from influential figures in the art world. High-ranking South Korean officials, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung, were among the attendees. International representatives from major art institutions, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and Tate Modern in London, also made appearances. Additionally, cultural icons like K-pop stars—BTS members and BLACKPINK’s Lisa—were present, adding to the event's appeal.

One of the most notable sales during the preview day at Frieze Seoul was the sale of Mark Bradford’s “Okay, then I apologize” (2025), a triptych abstract painting, for $4.5 million to an undisclosed Asian collector. This piece marked the highest-priced sale at the fair to date. Other significant sales included works by American artists George Condo and Rashid Johnson, which fetched $1.2 million and $750,000 respectively. Two paintings by Louise Bourgeois sold for $950,000 and $600,000 each.

Another gallery, Salzburg-based Thaddaeus Ropac, sold a work by German artist Georg Baselitz for 1.8 million euros ($2.09 million) and a painting by Alex Katz for $900,000.

At Kiaf Seoul, Kukje Gallery sold a painting by late artist Park Seo-bo for over 400 million won ($288,000). All 10 pieces of Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone’s "Color Mountain" sculpture series were sold, with prices ranging between $45,000 and $54,000 each. Gallery Hyundai also saw a successful sale of a painting by water-droplet artist Kim Tchang-yeul for over 200 million won.

The Kiaf Highlights section, which showcased 10 emerging Korean artists, also experienced strong sales. Gallery Theo sold 15 pieces by Park Grim, while Space Willing N Dealing sold 10 pieces by artist Park Noh-wan.

Lee Sung-hoon, president of the Galleries Association of Korea, emphasized the importance of Kiaf as a platform for contemporary art. He stated, “This year, we were able to witness the future direction and power of Korean art through the works of diverse generations and backgrounds presented in one place.” He also highlighted the active participation of young art lovers in their 20s and 30s, calling it a crucial movement that will sustain the future art market.

Other gallerists echoed similar sentiments. Kim Jung-sook from Duru Art Space noted the presence of young collectors alongside international buyers from Asia, Russia, and other regions, which she viewed as a sign of Kiaf’s sustainable global potential. Jang Young-ho, president of Gallery Mac, pointed out that the quality and viewing environment of Kiaf have improved to a level comparable to Frieze since the co-hosting began four years ago. He added that the collaboration has helped domestic galleries and artists expand their networks with overseas galleries and institutions.

“This fair served as a great opportunity for us to expand our overseas presence and global networking, beyond simple artwork sales,” he said.