Practical guidelines to be distributed by year-end

Grace period runs through July 25 next year

Visitors view artworks at the Kiaf Seoul 2026 art fair held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Sept. 2. [Yoon Chang-bin]
Visitors view artworks at the Kiaf Seoul 2026 art fair held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Sept. 2. [Yoon Chang-bin]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Thursday announced standardized formats and required fields for artwork appraisal certificates and certificates of authenticity.

The ministry issued two official notices under the Fine Arts Promotion Act — one governing artwork appraisal certificates and one governing certificates of authenticity.

An artwork appraisal certificate is a document in which a registered art appraisal business operator offers an opinion on the authenticity and value of a work. The certificates fall into two categories: an authenticity appraisal certificate, which presents a professional judgment on whether a work is genuine, and a price appraisal certificate, which expresses the artistic, cultural and historical significance and quality of a work in monetary terms.

An authenticity appraisal certificate must include the work's basic information — artist name, title, year of creation, medium and technique, dimensions and an image — along with identifying details such as the location and form of the artist's signature, the work's condition and restoration history, and any distinctive characteristics. It must also state the grounds for the appraisal, the conclusion on authenticity, the date of issue, the appraiser's name, the issuing body's name and seal, the issuing body's address and contact information, and a unique document number.

Only registered art appraisal business operators may issue such certificates. Violations carry a fine of up to 5 million won ($3,740). Operators who issue appraisal certificates in a format other than the prescribed one may face administrative sanctions, including closure of their business.

However, no administrative sanctions or fines will be imposed until July 25, 2027, which marks the end of the grace period for the art services business registration system.

A certificate of authenticity is a document in which an artist or art services business operator confirms that a work is genuine and guarantees the accuracy of the information stated in it.

The certificate must include the work's basic information — artist name, title, year of creation, medium and technique, dimensions and an image — as well as the scope of the guarantee, the date and place of purchase, the date of issue, the issuing body's name and seal, the issuing body's address and contact information, and a unique document number.

Buyers may request a certificate of authenticity from the artist or art services business operator when purchasing a work. If the artist or operator cannot issue one, they must inform the buyer before the sale is completed.

The Culture Ministry plans to distribute practical guidelines by year-end to help standardize the preparation of appraisal certificates and certificates of authenticity.

Jung Hyang-mi, director general of the ministry's Culture and Arts Policy Bureau, said the notices "lay the groundwork for protecting art consumers and making the market more transparent, so that Korea's art market can grow." Jung added that the ministry "will continue to invest attention and resources in standardizing and systematizing art appraisal, alongside protecting consumers."


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