Renowned Masters and Emerging New Faces... 2026 Hwarang Art Festival Opens

A Record 169 Galleries and Dealers Participate
Masters and Emerging Artists Share the Stage...
The Spring Art Market Faces Its First Test

The curtain has risen on the first event to gauge the trends of the domestic art market in the first half of this year at COEX in Seoul. The 2026 Hwarang Art Festival, the nation’s longest-running art fair, kicked off on April 8 with a VIP preview. The event will run through April 12, with a record 169 galleries and art dealers participating this year. According to the official lineup, approximately 900 artists are presenting around 10,000 works.

On the 8th, visitors attending the Art Fair held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are appreciating the artworks. Photo by Yonhap News

The Hwarang Art Festival is the first art fair ever held in Korea, having started in 1979 as the “Korea Gallery Association Exhibition.” This year marks its 44th edition and also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Korea Gallery Association. The venue features a special exhibition looking back at the association’s past 50 years through archival materials, documents, videos, and interviews with previous presidents.

This year’s Hwarang Art Festival takes an even clearer form. Regardless of their size, all participating galleries are displaying their works in identical booths measuring 6 meters by 6 meters. Rather than competing with booth size, participants must focus on the artists and the works themselves. This rule highlights the unique character of the festival, where major galleries, established dealers, and younger galleries all compete on an equal footing.

There are two main attractions. The first is the main booths, which spotlight renowned and mid-career artists. Gallery Hyundai is presenting works by the late Chung Sang-Hwa, who passed away in January, while Kukje Gallery is showcasing the works of Kim Yun-shin, Park Jinah, and Kim Se-A. The second is the “Solo Booth” section, which has grown in prominence since its introduction last year. This year, 19 galleries are participating, each focusing on a single artist in the main corridor of Hall C. Notable examples include Moon Hyungtae of Gana Art, Jung Hyun of PKM Gallery, and Chae Rim of Hakgojae Gallery.

Visitors admire art pieces at the Gallery Art Fair held on the 8th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The emphasis on emerging artists has grown stronger. Over 700 applicants vied for a spot in the special exhibition for new artists, “ZOOM-IN Edition 7,” with 10 finalists ultimately selected: Kim Suyeon, Park Siwol, Song Daseul, Yoon Inseon, Lee Suji, Lee Shina, Lee Jini, Jeong Mijeong, Jeong Jin, and Ha Seonguk. Three outstanding artists will be chosen through visitor voting and on-site judging, and the event sponsor, KB Financial Group, will also present a separate “KB Star Award.” This shows that the Hwarang Art Festival now serves not just as a sales venue but also as a gateway for new artists entering the market.

This is not merely an event focused on transactions. In the Talk Lounge of Hall D, artist talks featuring ZOOM-IN participants and art critics are being held, and on April 11, there will be programs covering art appraisal and previews of the domestic and international art markets in 2026. Docent programs for VIPs and general visitors will also run sequentially from April 8 to April 11. The program is structured to add layers of explanation and learning to the experience of viewing and trading art.

On the 8th, visitors at the Gallery Art Fair held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are appreciating art pieces. Photo by Yonhap News

External variables outside the event remain significant. On April 7, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) diagnosed in its April issue of “Economic Trends” that downside risks to the economy have increased due to the war in the Middle East, and on March 31, the won/dollar exchange rate exceeded 1,530 won during trading, exposing shocks in the financial markets. In this context, the kind of viewership and transactions generated by the Hwarang Art Festival is expected to serve not only as a measure of the event’s popularity but also as the first indicator of the art market’s vitality this spring.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.