Overview

• The five-day pairing at Coex drew more than 80,000 visitors, including representatives from over 160 museums and institutions, according to the fairs.
• Hauser & Wirth sold Mark Bradford’s 2025 triptych for $4.5 million on the VIP day, the highest-priced work reported at Frieze Seoul, to an undisclosed Asian collector.
• Frieze Seoul featured about 120 galleries with 75% international participation focused on Asia, while Korean galleries increased to 30 from 12 in the inaugural year.
• Galleries reported mixed results as some sales lagged, with several dealers describing Korean buyers as comparatively cautious even as overall demand proved steadier than expected.
• Frieze leaders highlighted investor backing following Ari Emanuel’s buyback and said the Seoul fair will continue to seek greater representation from leading Asian galleries.