Busan-based Johyun Gallery's branch opened last month at The Shilla Seoul. / Courtesy of Johyun Gallery

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 Basel fair in Switzerland.

"While attending international art fairs, I realized that many people were unaware that Daegu is a city in Korea. This made it clear that having a presence in Seoul is essential," said Kim Eun-ah, director of Wooson Gallery.

Daegu-based Gallery Shilla opened a branch in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, last year and added another exhibition space in Itaewon this year. Seen is the Itaewon exhibition location, where it invited artists for a promotional event. Courtesy of Gallery Shilla

Historical foundations of regional galleries

Daegu and Busan are cities with strong artistic foundations. They host major art fairs like Art Busan and Daegu Art Fair (DIAF), and have nurtured a rich base of art enthusiasts through the city's accumulated wealth.

Daegu, in particular, is celebrated as the birthplace of modern Korean art, producing masters such as Lee In-sung and Lee Quedae.

However, the recent trend of these historically rich galleries moving to Seoul raises the question: why now?

An official from a Daegu gallery explained, "From the 1980s to the early 2000s, Daegu played a central role in contemporary art. However, the population and resources have since shifted heavily to Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area. It's only natural for galleries to follow these opportunities."

For instance, Daegu's largest gallery, Leeahn Gallery, opened its Seoul branch in 2013.

"We hosted the first solo exhibition of American contemporary art giant Alex Katz in 2007, but it received less attention because it was in Daegu," said Leeahn Gallery director Ahn Hye-ryeong. "Opening a branch in Seoul has greatly enhanced our publicity and ensured our evaluations are not underestimated simply because we are a regional gallery,"

Accelerated opening of art market

The entry of the globally renowned art fair Frieze into Seoul in 2022 further accelerated the move of regional galleries to the capital.

With world-class galleries showcasing multi-billion-won artworks in Seoul and daily art events taking place, regional galleries felt the urgency to secure a presence in the capital.

Lee Jun-yeop, director of Gallery Shilla, a Daegu-based gallery that opened its Seoul branch in Samcheong-dong in 2021, said, "Every September, during Frieze and KIAF, galleries with spaces in Seoul can participate in numerous side events. Without a base in Seoul, it's easy to be left out. "

Lee said that just as Korean companies restructured during the IMF financial crisis to enhance their competitiveness, "the gallery industry is in a transitional phase to achieve global competitiveness."

As the concentration of resources and opportunities in Seoul continues, regional galleries are increasingly compelled to establish a foothold in the capital to stay competitive and relevant in the rapidly evolving art market.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.