103 domestic galleries to participate, with spotlight on emerging artists

Official poster for the 2026 Hwarang Misulche in Suwon. [Korea Gallery Association]
Official poster for the 2026 Hwarang Misulche in Suwon. [Korea Gallery Association]

The "Hwarang Misulche in Suwon," the premier art fair serving the southern Greater Seoul area, will be held June 25–28 at Suwon Convention Center in Suwon. This year, 103 galleries will participate, showcasing a broad range of currents in contemporary Korean art.

Now in its third edition, the 2026 Hwarang Misulche in Suwon will present works spanning emerging artists to established mid-career and blue-chip names. A strong showing of new works by rising artists is expected, offering fresh sensibilities and experimental approaches.

Among the emerging artists, Yoon Pil-hyeon of Geumsan Gallery will present works that blend wit and imagination, while Han Chung-seok of Gallery Woo explores the nature of human relationships through stylized figures. Goodmorningtown of Hakgojae traces an artistic practice that began with tattoo work and has since expanded across multiple media, and Song Ji-yeon of Sun Gallery reinterprets everyday landscapes through her distinctive impasto technique.

Also featured are Kim Young-ju of Woong Gallery, who pushes the boundaries of the flat canvas into three-dimensional form; Lee Mok-ha of Jason Ham, who paints portraits of restless youth; and Yoon Wi-dong of Gallery Banditrasoo, who visualizes the passage of time through stone and sand.

Blue-chip artists are also expected to draw collectors' attention. Works on view will include those by Choi Byung-so of Gallery Date, Chae Sung-pil of Gallery Grimson, Noh Joon of Ewha Ik Gallery, Choi Young-wook of JJ Jungjeong Gallery, Kim Deok-gi of Soul Art Space, Hwang Sun-tae of Pyo Gallery, Yoo Sun-tae of Gallery Gaia, Ha Tae-im of Gallery Ilho and Kook Kyung-oh of Concrete Gallery.

Works by towering figures of Korean contemporary art — Lee Ufan, Nam June Paik, Kim Tschang-yeul and Lee Dae-won — will also be on display, alongside artists who move fluidly between fine art and popular culture, including Naul and Nancy Lang.

International artists represented include Damien Hirst, Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, Andy Warhol, Urs Fischer, Bernard Buffet and Jonathan Gardner.

As with the 2026 Hwarang Misulche held in Seoul in April, the Suwon edition will feature "solo booths" offering an in-depth look at individual artists. Eel-i-gu Gallery will spotlight Hong Ji-hee, Nine Gallery will present Woo Byung-chul, Gallery Doll will feature Kitz, and Kim Ria Gallery will showcase the work of Lee Seul-a.

Suwon Cultural Foundation, a partner of the fair, will mount a special exhibition titled "Sumunjang." Organized as part of the foundation's Cultural City Center "Sumunjang Art Fair" project, the exhibition takes "Wave" as its theme and presents works by 24 artists based in Suwon.

The Hwarang Misulche, organized by the Korea Gallery Association, launched in 1979 as the country's first art fair, with the aim of bringing Korean art to the public and developing the domestic art market. Since 2024, the association has held the Suwon edition to help galleries reach new markets and foster ties with local communities.

The Suwon fair has been building its profile as the leading art fair in southern Gyeonggi Province, cultivating new audiences and collectors. The number of participating galleries has grown from 95 in its inaugural year to 103 this year.

General admission is 20,000 won (about $13), with a discounted rate of 15,000 won for Suwon residents and students. This year, for the first time, the fair is introducing family tickets: a three-person family pass for two adults and one student is priced at 40,000 won, while a four-person pass for two adults and two students costs 50,000 won.


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