K-Art Courses: Yesterday and Today of Korean Art

Seochon and Bukchon were the main stages for artists from the Joseon dynasty to modern times. As a result, traces of painters, such as Gyeomjae Jeong Seon and Chusa Kim Jeong-hui in the late Joseon dynasty as well as those who led our modern art scene, such as Ko Hei-tong, Oh Se-chang, and Ahn Jung-sik, remain everywhere. This tradition has continued to this day, and unique galleries have been established in every corner of Seochon and Bukchon.

Travel Course

Jongno Park No-soo Art Museum: Appreciation of Contemporary Art in Modern Cultural Heritage

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The starting point of the K-Modern Art course is the Jongno Park No-soo Art Museum. After liberation, the house of painter Park No-soo (1927-2013), one of the representative artists of the Korean art world, was donated and operated as an art gallery that exhibits his works. The museum, built during the Japanese colonial period, was designated as Seoul Cultural Heritage Material in recognition of the value of the building itself. While rooted in Korean painting, the works of artist Park No-soo, which are impressive with strong colors and bold touches, are evaluated as embodying a modern aesthetic sense within the tradition. It is like appreciating the works that opened the door to Korean contemporary art from the modern cultural heritage.

Passing through the nameplate that reads Park No-soo and entering the museum's yard, visitors are greeted by a small two-story house. The brick porch of the entrance (the space with a roof in front of the building's entrance) is Western-style, but the gable roof with exposed rafters is Oriental style. It is a typical form of “eclectic-style cultural housing” built in the 1930s. Stained furniture and daily necessities can be seen in the interior space, along with the works of artist Park No-soo. The exhibition, which harmonizes works, props, and space, provides a unique experience.

Gallery Simon: The Forefront of Contemporary Art

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If you saw the beginning of Korea’s contemporary art at Jongno Park No-soo Art Museum, you can appreciate 21st-century K-art at Gallery Simon. Gallery Simon is an art gallery where you can see the forefront of Korea’s contemporary art. Since opening its doors in 1994, it has been displaying the flow of contemporary art with planned exhibitions. Even now, it holds solo exhibitions and various group exhibitions of artists representing contemporary art, such as Noh Sang-kyoon, Bae Hyung-kyung, and Kang Ai-ran. It also supports talented artists to raise the status of Korean contemporary art by strengthening continuous exchanges with domestic art museums and leading overseas art museums and galleries.
Gallery Simon is located at the site of Changuigung Palace, where Yeongjo, the 21st king of Joseon, lived as a prince. Valuable artifacts were excavated while constructing a building dedicated to the gallery here.

Artspace 3: A Contemporary Art Gallery with Joseon Artifacts Exhibition Halls

Artspace 3, about 20 meters from Gallery Simon, also introduces a variety of contemporary Korean art from an original and innovative perspective. The number' 3' stands for harmony and balance between the three groups: the artist, the audience, and the gallery. After starting in Insa-dong and moving to Seochon in 2018, it held various exhibitions such as , , and .

The main exhibition hall, with both white and cement walls, has ceiling heights of 4 meters and 8 meters and is designed to allow various types of exhibitions. In the space connected to the main exhibition hall by a two-story structure, there is a relic exhibition hall where you can see the residential form of the 16th-century Joseon dynasty. A separate exhibition hall was set up to display residential sites and relics from the Joseon dynasty to modern times discovered during the construction of the building. Thanks to this, Artspace 3 has become a unique space where contemporary art and old cultural properties coexist.

Daelim Museum Where Everyday Life Becomes Art

Daelim Museum, which opened in Seochon in 2002, operates under the motto “Making art of everyday life.” For this reason, rather than fine arts such as paintings and sculptures, exhibitions that shed light on the value of objects that can be easily seen around are mainly held. Thanks to this, you can see a variety of exhibitions that cross genres, including photography, video, installation, illustration, and design. There are many things that appeal to young people, becoming a hot place for people in their 20s and 30s. Museum also allowed visitors to freely take pictures of the exhibition works and spaces from early on, naturally exposing them on social media. Differentiated “goods” in the museum shop are also popular because they are perfect for young people.

The museum building, designed by a French architect, is a work of art that harmonizes artificial and natural as well as traditional and modern. The stained glass on the front of the building, inspired by Korean traditional Bojagi, draws attention. The view of Inwangsan Mountain and Bukhansan Mountain from the balcony on the 4th floor is also fantastic.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul: An Open Art Museum Containing History in the City

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, located at the entrance of Bukchon to the east of Gyeongbokgung Palace, is the new center of contemporary art in Korea. Although it opened later (2013) than the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon (1986), and Deoksugung Palace (1998), it still has clear comparative advantage in terms of accessibility and size. Moreover, it is designed as an “open art museum” where the inside and outside of the building are organically connected in an open space without a fence, so the visitors' satisfaction is high.
Originally, this place was where government offices gathered from the old days. During the Joseon dynasty, there were Sogyeokseo, Jongchinbu Government Office, Gyujanggak, and Saganwon. After liberation, Seoul National University Hospital, Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital, and the Defense Security Command were established. By utilizing the building of the Defense Security Command as it is, it also secured the symbolism of transforming a place that was once a symbol of oppression into a free art space. It is a complex arts and culture center equipped with various facilities such as large and small exhibition halls, digital information hall, multimedia hall, and a movie theater, where you can experience not only Korean contemporary art but also contemporary art from around the world.

Art Sonje Center: A Private Art Museum Representing Bukchon

The Art Sonje Center, a 5-minute walk from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, is a private art museum representing Bukchon. It aims to introspect our contemporary lives through art and provide prospects and visions for a better life. Since its opening in 1998, it has promoted the development of contemporary art through exhibitions, screenings, performances, and various educational programs and has shared the results with the public. The movie theater operated here screened art films from around the world, which wasn't easy to acquire at the time, and received a good response. It has also continued to provide new exhibitions through collaboration with art-related fields such as music, literature, dance, and fashion.

The museum building, which received the Korea Institute of Architects Award and the Korean Architecture Award after its completion, is also worth looking around. Although it is a single space, it is composed of a complex cultural space equipped with an exhibition hall that can be changed freely, a theater, and a hanok. The hanok, with a small yard, is operated as a cafe, which is a good place to take a break after viewing the exhibition.

Travel Information

Public Transportation Information
[Subway] Walk for approx. 13 minutes from Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2 to Jongno Park No-soo Art Museum

Nearby Restaurants and Cafes
Gastro Tong
Address: 11-36 Jahamun-ro 6-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-2-730-4162
Main menu: Steak and Pasta

Dochwi
Address: 23-6 Ogin-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-2-723-1288
Main menu: Tteok Gui (grilled rice cake), Homemade Apple Honey, and Cream Cheese Kkotgammari

As Like
Address: 23 Hyoja-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-2-722-9994
Main menu: Sandwich and Coffee

Cam On
Address: 18 Jahamun-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-2-736-6001
Main menu: Vietnamese Ssalguksu (Vietnamese rice noodles) and Spring Rolls

Ganggu Mijuguri
Address: 5 Jahamun-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-2-737-1717
Main menu: Modum Hoe (assorted sliced raw fish) and Sekkosi (bone-in sliced raw fish)

Salt 24
Address: 75 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-2-722-9277
Main menu: Angbeoteo and Cheese Stick

Decide
Address: 22-31 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-2 -733-9092
Main menu: Tart and Cheesecake

Cafe Albergue
Address: 53-30 Pirundae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-2-423-8833
Main menu: Cafe Latte and Cafe Con Leche

Sorry Espresso Bar
Address: 12 Jahamun-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-10-9590-9659
Main menu: Espresso and Egg Tart

Terarosa , National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
Address: 30 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: +82-1668-2764
Main menu: Americano and House Juice

* Credit & inquiries: KTO Tourism Exhibition Hall Management Team