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Korea's longest-running art fair to open with largest exhibition to date in April

Published: 17 Mar. 2026, 13:15 Updated: 17 Mar. 2026, 16:33

LEE JIAN
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2025 edition of Galleries Art Fair at Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul [GALLERIES ART FAIR]

Korea’s longest-running art fair, the Galleries Art Fair, is set to open on April 8 with its largest edition to date, the Galleries Association of Korea announced on Tuesday.

Run by the association, the fair will comprise a total of 169 galleries this year — the most since the fair first opened in 1979. The event will bring together many of the country’s leading galleries, including Kukje Gallery, Gana Art, PKM Gallery and Hakgojae Gallery, alongside newer ones such as Obscura and THEO, at the Coex convention center in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, through April 12.

“Through expanded solo booths spotlighting rising artists, as well as special exhibitions and docent programs, Galleries Art Fair offers audiences opportunities to engage more deeply with art,” Lee Sung-hoon, the president of the Galleries Association of Korea, told reporters at the Korea Press Center in Jingo District, central Seoul, on Tuesday. “We strive to present a comprehensive view of contemporary Korean art today.”

Participation in the fair is limited to its members and does not require a selection process. This stands in contrast to Kiaf Seoul, also organized by the association, which is open to a broader range of galleries but requires a rigorous vetting process.

“Securing exhibition opportunities can be challenging for galleries. Individual gallery shows often struggle to attract collectors, but by bringing galleries together in one place, the fair creates a more concentrated space that encourages attendance. Providing this kind of opportunity for our members is the core purpose of the Galleries Art Fair,” Lee said.

Founded in May 1976, the Galleries Association of Korea is a private nonprofit organization that reportedly has 185 galleries as members, according to its January data.

Poster for the 2025 Galleries Art Fair, set to run from April 8 to 12 at Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul [GALLERIES ART FAIR]

This year’s edition will also spotlight 10 emerging artists through its Zoom In section, now in its seventh year. Selected from around 7,000 applicants, the artists — Kim Soo-youn, Park Si-wol, Song Da-seul, Youn Julie In-sun, Lee Su-ji, Lee Shin-a, Lee Siennie, Jung Mi-jung, Jung Jean and Ha Sung-wook — work across a range of mediums, including painting, sculpture and installation. The final selection was made through an internal review by the association, with input from five external experts.

Additionally, the fair will feature a special exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the Galleries Association of Korea. The exhibition will trace the organization’s history through archival materials such as photographs, exhibition catalogs and newspaper and magazine clippings while reflecting on the trajectory of the Korean art scene and its future through interviews with former association directors.

BY LEE JIAN [[email protected]]