Expansion of Frieze Seoul Broadens Asian Presence; Despite Growth, Remains Unclear if Korean Collectors Still Hold Back?

This year's collaboration between Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul, held at Coex, saw a surge in interest and inquiries for works. Over 80,000 visitors attended the event, including representatives from more than 160 leading museums and institutions.

One of the highlights of the art week was the sale of an "Ecriture" painting by Korean dansaekhwa master Park Seo-bo for around 400 million won ($288,000) by Kukje Gallery. The gallery also sold all works from Ugo Rondinone's Color Mountain sculpture series.

The highest-priced work ever sold at Frieze Seoul was a triptych of paintings by American artist Mark Bradford, which fetched $4.5 million.

Frieze Seoul, inaugurated in 2022, is the biggest art event in Seoul. This year, the fair was joined by around 120 galleries, with 75 percent being international and focusing on Asia and the wider Asia region.

Paris-based gallery Mennour presented works by globally renowned artists such as Lee Ufan and Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita at Frieze Seoul. The gallery noted a somewhat recovered market compared to the previous year.

Chinese gallery Hive Center for Contemporary Art presented works by Chinese artists at Frieze Seoul for the first time. The gallery came to explore opportunities for collaboration with overseas and Korean institutions or galleries.

Some galleries reported a 60:40 ratio of Korean to international collectors at the fair, with Korean collectors being relatively conservative in their purchases. However, Beili Wang, the gallery's sales director for Greater Asia, reported an improvement in interest from Korean collectors in well-known and familiar artists at Frieze Seoul.

A Japanese gallerist reported weaker sales this year compared to last, but plans to return due to the international atmosphere of Frieze Seoul. Claudia Chen, co-founder of Liang Gallery, saw more local entrepreneurs and collectors at Frieze Seoul this year, offering an opportunity to connect with the local market.

Sales at Frieze Seoul were more resilient than expected amid a slowdown in the global art market. Another gallerist from Southeast Asia wants to return to Frieze Seoul due to the wider range of visitors and galleries from Asia and beyond.

Seoul Art Week was introduced to coincide with Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul, making it the capital's biggest annual international art fair. The art week saw late-night openings of galleries and museums in the city's art clusters, offering special programs and parties.

Frieze Seoul has immersed Seoul in art every year from late August to early September since its inception. The fourth collaboration between Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul concluded on Sunday.

Note: Contrary to some misconceptions, Kukje Gallery in Seoul was founded by Chang Hwan Kim and Kim Hyon-sook in 1982, not by a woman and not by Zheng Lin. The gallery played a key role in the development of the Korean art scene and supported initiatives like Frieze Seoul.

The question is based on a misstatement of the founding details. The Kukje Gallery in Seoul was founded by Chang Hwan Kim and Kim Hyon-sook in 1982, not by a woman and not by Zheng Lin; it played a key role in the development of the Korean art scene and supported initiatives like Frieze Seoul, which launched in 2022.