South Korea's Gallery Art Fair at COEX Expands to 169 Galleries

South Korea’s oldest art fair, the Gallery Art Fair organized by the Korean Gallery Association, is slated to run at COEX in Seoul from August 8–12, with a VIP preview on August 8. The event coincides with the association’s 50th anniversary and was announced by Lee Seong-hoon, president of the Korean Gallery Association and owner of Seonhwa Gallery, at a press briefing in Seoul.

The 2026 edition will bring together a record 169 member galleries, including major players such as Gallery Hyundai, International Gallery, Hakgojae, and Ri An Gallery. The fair last year drew a record crowd of about 60,000 visitors, and organizers say they expect to exceed that number this time.

A key feature of the program is an expanded focus on individual artists, with larger dedicated solo booths. The fair will also run a theme-based docent program, a series of “Art & Artist Talk” discussions pairing participating artists with critics, and a public voting component to recognize outstanding artists. Among the artists, 10 emerging talents were selected from roughly 700 applicants, with a three-person awards ceremony held on site.

Lee said the event is especially meaningful as the association marks its 50-year milestone, describing the fair as a way to review the long-running trajectory of Korea’s art market and to highlight the significance of each gallery. He framed the gathering as an opportunity to broaden participation and access through a major market event.

For international readers, the fair’s growth reflects rising global interest in Korean art and could present opportunities for U.S. collectors, galleries, and cultural institutions seeking new artists and broader East Asian contemporary art exposure. The gathering offers a window into Korea’s gallery ecosystem, network connections, and the next generation of artists shaping the region’s art market.

Contextual background: the Gallery Art Fair originated in 1979 as the Korea Gallery Association Exhibition and has since been Korea’s first and one of its most influential art markets events. COEX, in Seoul’s Gangnam district, is one of the region’s largest convention centers, hosting major trade shows and cultural events. The fair’s scale and programming enhancements signal a maturing market that could influence pricing, curation, and international partnerships in the months ahead.