1 week Ago By [email protected](KoreaTimes)
Busan-based Johyun Gallery's branch opened last month at The Shilla Seoul. / Courtesy of Johyun Gallery Other major Korean cities lack Seoul's resources, people, opportunities By KTimes The trend of prominent galleries from Daegu and Busan moving to Seoul continues to gain momentum, as seen with Busan-based Johyun Gallery's recent opening of a branch at The Shilla Seoul, a hotel in the capital. The gallery celebrated its opening last month with a solo exhibition by the artist Kishio Suga (1944~), signaling its ambitions in the capital.
Johyun Gallery, established in 1989 and recognized as one of the leading galleries in Korea, had previously operated an exhibition space in Seoul's Cheongdam-dong before withdrawing in 2015. Now, nine years later, the gallery has made a major return to Seoul. Choi Jae-woo, the director of Johyun Gallery, said, "Seoul is not just a key hub for Korea but for the global art scene.
We aim to maintain our primary base in Busan while actively engaging with both domestic and international art communities through our Seoul branch." Similarly, Wooson Gallery, which opened in Daegu in 2012, is currently constructing a new two-story branch in Seoul's Seongbuk-dong, set to open later this year. With a total area of 218 square meters, this expansion underscores the gallery's strategic move to increase its visibility and influence.
Wooson Gallery recently made headlines by being the first regional gallery from Korea to participate in the prestigious Art Base.
