Ahead of APEC 2025, Gyeongju Arts Center hosts Korean contemporary art exhibition

On the cultural front.

The venue of this year's APEC leaders' meeting Gyeongju City is currently hosting a Korean contemporary art exhibition to commemorate the upcoming multilateral economic meeting.

My colleague Ahn Sung-jin was there.

A collection of four of the greatest.

Kim Whanki, Park Sookeun, Lee Jungseop, and Jang Ucchin are artists who represent Korean contemporary art, and works of all four can be seen together at Gyeongju Arts Center.

In celebration of the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting taking place in Gyeongju this fall, the exhibition, a collaboration between MMCA and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, puts the spotlight on Korean art.

"These four leading figures of modern and contemporary art reflect the hardships of their era, as well as Korea's tradition and nature and show it into their own unique artistic styles."

Kim Whanki is known as the pioneer of Korean abstract art through his notable pieces, including "Mountains."

His signature style of all-over dot paintings is often seen on canvases filled with blue dots.

Park Sookeun also had his own style in portraying human goodness with layers of oil paint, as seen with his painting "Under the Tree."

And just like Park, who illustrated the hardships of ordinary people in post-war Korea, Lee Jungseop expressed his hardships and emotions, such as deep longing for his family, using silver foil paintings like in "Family."

And like all other artists, Jang Ucchin also focused on the everyday aspects of life that are reflected on his canvases through simple yet clear depictions, as seen in "Village."

"I got to see all the artists in one spot, and as someone who is interested in art, I had to see the artworks up close. Pieces from Artist Kim Whanki are not so easily seen, and to see the change throughout his work was moving."

Through this special exhibition with all four artists, visitors can see the essence of Korean beauty, and the Gyeongju Foundation for Arts and Culture notes that more such events in accordance with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will take place to boost the city.

"Holding such a large-scale exhibition means a lot. Not only will it contribute to the vitalization of regional culture and art, but by hosting these exhibitions outside of Seoul and the capital area allow local residents to explore these cultural events and boost their pride."

This exhibition runs till October, so for those interested in exploring Korean contemporary and modern art, visit the historical city of Gyeongju.

Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Gyeongju.