The Pyeongchang-dong studio where Kim spent 30 years creating — including a fully restored below-ground atelier — has been open to the public since May; the inaugural exhibition spotlighting his hanji works features 24 pieces from the district's collection
Jongno-gu will extend the exhibition "Kim Chang-yeol: Traces of Water Drops" at the Jongno-gu Kim Chang-yeol Artist's House (74 Pyeongchang 7-gil) through Dec. 20, citing strong public interest.
The exhibition focuses on the significance of the Pyeongchang-dong studio where Kim worked, highlighting his hanji pieces — a body of work that occupies an important place in his artistic legacy.
The space, with its high ceilings and abundant natural light, was well suited to large-scale paintings and hanji work.
On display are 24 works from Jongno-gu's collection — 19 paintings, four prints and one drawing — along with preparatory studies and finished pieces from his signature series "Water Drops" and "Recurrence." Visitors can examine up close the process behind each completed work and the artist's distinctive mode of expression.
The Kim Chang-yeol Artist's House is the only studio in South Korea where the artist lived with his family and continued creating for more than 30 years before his death in 2021. The district signed an MOU with his family, purchased the home and converted it into a public cultural facility.
The first floor houses two dedicated exhibition rooms, while the former living quarters on the second floor have been turned into a ticket booth and café. The below-ground studio has been restored as closely as possible to its original state during Kim's lifetime, allowing visitors to experience his creative space firsthand.
Since opening on May 28, the venue has welcomed about 20,000 visitors as of Sept. 6, drawing an enthusiastic response from the public.
The house is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be closed on Mondays, on chuseok (Sept. 25) and on Oct. 6. It will remain open on the substitute holiday Oct. 5, as well as on National Foundation Day and Hangul Day. Admission is 5,000 won for adults, 3,000 won for teenagers and 2,000 won for children; Jongno-gu residents and visitors wearing hanbok, among others, are eligible for discounts of up to 50 percent.
For more information, visitors may consult the Jongno Cultural Foundation website or contact the Kim Chang-yeol Artist's House directly.
"The fact that more than 20,000 people visited in just four months since opening is proof of how deeply the public cares about Kim Chang-yeol's artistic spirit and the space he inhabited," Jongno-gu District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong said. "We have extended the exhibition so that more people can fully experience the artist's creative world, and we hope visitors will come before year's end and feel something truly special."
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