Overview

• ARTnews spotlights five Seoul galleries that have gained momentum through distinctive programs and alternative approaches.
• The city’s gallery expansion accelerated after Frieze Seoul’s 2022 debut and the wider hallyu wave, even as international players concentrate in Yongsan and long-established leaders remain in Samcheong-dong.
• Younger spaces are moving into areas like Euljiro and Haebangchon, with some founders converting residences into exhibition sites to push back against the white cube model.
• Gallery owners describe headwinds from a sluggish economy and a domestic market slump, noting that some spaces reverted to traditional formats while others grew more resilient.
• Founders say neighborhood character shapes their programs, highlighting Haebangchon’s layered history and diverse community and Euljiro’s industrial energy.