South Korea's two premier art exhibitions, Kiaf Seoul and Frieze Seoul, wrapped up over the weekend after attracting massive international attention and reinforcing their growing influence as major art destinations beyond the Asian market. The concurrent events drew approximately 70,000 to 80,000 visitors from 48 countries to the COEX exhibition center in southern Seoul, highlighting the city's emerging status as a global art hub.
The five-day festival period, running from Wednesday through Sunday with Frieze concluding one day earlier than Kiaf, kicked off with exclusive preview events that attracted prominent figures from around the world. High-profile attendees included Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and South Korea's First Lady Kim Hea Kyung, alongside officials from prestigious international art institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and London's Tate Modern. The star-studded gathering was further enhanced by the presence of K-pop celebrities, including members of BTS and BLACKPINK's Lisa, along with other entertainment figures.
Frieze Seoul generated significant buzz with record-breaking sales, most notably a headline-grabbing transaction on the preview day. Zurich-based gallery Hauser & Wirth successfully sold Mark Bradford's latest triptych abstract painting, "Okay, then I apologize" (2025), for $4.5 million to an undisclosed Asian collector, marking the fair's most expensive sale to date. The same gallery continued its strong performance by selling works from other acclaimed American artists, including paintings by George Condo and Rashid Johnson for $1.2 million and $750,000 respectively, while two pieces by Louise Bourgeois were purchased for $950,000 and $600,000 each.
International galleries demonstrated robust sales across various price points, with Salzburg-based Thaddaeus Ropac achieving notable transactions including a work by German artist Georg Baselitz for 1.8 million euros ($2.09 million) and a painting by Alex Katz for $900,000. These high-value sales reflected the strong appetite among collectors for contemporary and modern masterworks at the Seoul venue.
Kiaf Seoul also recorded impressive sales figures, showcasing the strength of both Korean and international contemporary art markets. Kukje Gallery sold a painting by the late Korean artist Park Seo-bo for over 400 million won ($288,000), along with the complete collection of Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone's "Color Mountain" sculpture series, with all 10 pieces priced between $45,000 and $54,000 each finding buyers. Gallery Hyundai successfully sold a work by renowned water-droplet artist Kim Tchang-yeul for more than 200 million won, demonstrating continued international interest in Korean contemporary art.
The Kiaf Highlights section, specifically designed to showcase 10 promising Korean artists, generated particularly strong sales momentum and interest from collectors. Gallery Theo achieved remarkable success by selling 15 pieces by artist Park Grim, while Space Willing N Dealing sold 10 works by artist Park Noh-wan, indicating robust market confidence in emerging Korean talent.
"Kiaf is a platform that shows the energy and potential of contemporary art," stated Lee Sung-hoon, president of the Galleries Association of Korea, which organizes the Kiaf event. "This year, we were able to witness the future direction and power of Korean art through the works of diverse generations and backgrounds presented in one place." Lee particularly emphasized "the active participation" of young art enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s, describing it as "a crucial movement that will sustain the future art market."
Industry professionals echoed these positive sentiments about the fairs' growing international significance and market potential. Kim Jung-sook from Seoul-based Duru Art Space observed, "I witnessed the notable presence of young collectors along with international collectors from Asia, Russia and other regions, and took that as the 24-year-old Kiaf's sustainable global potential going forward." Her comments highlighted the increasingly diverse and international collector base that the Seoul fairs are attracting.
Gallery Mac President Jang Young-ho noted the significant improvements in exhibition quality and viewing experience, stating that Kiaf has risen to a level comparable to Frieze as their co-hosting arrangement entered its fourth year. This collaboration has proven beneficial for domestic galleries and artists by helping them expand their networking opportunities with overseas galleries and art institutions. "I think the fair served as great chance for us to expand the overseas presence and global networking, beyond simple artwork sales," Jang explained, emphasizing the broader cultural and professional exchange benefits that extend beyond commercial transactions.
The successful conclusion of both fairs reinforces Seoul's position as an increasingly important destination in the global art calendar, demonstrating the city's ability to attract top-tier international galleries, collectors, and cultural figures while simultaneously promoting Korean contemporary art to worldwide audiences.
