List
If you’re visiting Seoul and want to experience the best of Korea’s modern creativity, the Korea Artist Prize 2025 exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is the perfect destination. Co-hosted by MMCA and SBS Foundation, this annual program celebrates the most innovative voices in Korean contemporary art. The 2025 edition marks the 10th anniversary of the award, featuring four remarkable artists exploring the intersection of art, belief, technology, and the future of humanity.
🌟 Featured Artists
- Kim YoungEun – explores the Politics of Listening, transforming sound into a social and sculptural experience that makes visitors rethink how we perceive the world through hearing.
- Im Youngzoo – investigates how superstition, science, and belief systems shape modern Korean identity through visually stunning video art and performance.
- Kim Jiyoung – reinterprets traditional East Asian motifs such as Chaekgado (bookshelves) and Byeongpung (folding screens), unraveling the meaning of “absent tradition.”
- Unmake Lab – an artist collective that uses artificial intelligence to explore how technology perceives — and sometimes misperceives — the human condition.
🖼️ Exhibition Highlights
Kim YoungEun: Politics of Listening
Kim YoungEun’s work invites audiences to listen deeply — not just with their ears, but with awareness. Through sound installations that question what we choose to hear or ignore, she opens space for empathy and collective reflection.
Im Youngzoo: Narratives that Fill the Void of Belief
Im Youngzoo examines the coexistence of old superstition and modern science in Korea’s rapidly changing society. Her works merge performance, video, and technology, revealing how faith and uncertainty continue to influence our daily lives.
Kim Jiyoung: Rewriting Art History with “Absent” Tradition
Kim Jiyoung’s art dismantles the East-West divide and questions what “tradition” means in today’s context. Her reinterpretations of Korean aesthetics and materials highlight how the past continues to shape the modern visual language.
Unmake Lab: Machine Vision on Humans
Unmake Lab merges AI and art to critique how machines “see” us. Their speculative project, Dataset-the-Non-Human, builds fictional AI datasets to explore ecology, emotion, and the boundary between the natural and artificial.
🎭 Programs & Performances
- Performance: Future Trace Practice by Im Youngzoo
📅 October 23–24, 2025. 20:00-21:00 | 📍 MMCA Gallery 4, Gallery 5 corridors, Gallery Madang - Lecture Performance: Fable of Machines by Unmake Lab
📅 November 22–23, 2025. 14:00-15:00 | 📍 MMCA Multi-Project Hall - Artist & Jury Talk: January 13, 2026 (tentative) | MMCA Multi-Project Hall
🕒 Visiting Information
- Location: National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA)
📍 30 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul - Opening Hours:
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun: 10:00–18:00
Wed & Sat: 10:00–21:00 - Closed: Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) and January 1
- Admission Fee: 2,000 KRW
🎟️ Free for visitors under 24, over 65, or every Wed & Sat after 6 PM - Parking: 4,200 KRW/hour (700 KRW per 10 min after the first hour)
🚇 How to Get There
The MMCA Seoul branch is beautifully located near Gyeongbokgung Palace and Samcheong-dong Art Street. Take Subway Line 3 to Anguk Station (Exit 1) or Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 5). It’s an easy 10-minute walk through a charming, tree-lined street filled with cafes, galleries, and boutiques.
📷 Travel Tip
Before or after visiting the exhibition, explore nearby attractions like the Seoul Museum of Craft Art and the Insadong Cultural Street. The MMCA courtyard (Madang) is also one of the best spots in Seoul for architecture and sunset photography.
💡 Why You Should Visit
The Korea Artist Prize 2025 goes beyond visual art — it’s a dialogue between humans, machines, and beliefs. Each work challenges us to question what’s real, what’s remembered, and what’s possible. Whether you’re an art lover, photographer, or culture enthusiast, MMCA Seoul offers a journey into Korea’s creative future.
Want more cultural travel ideas? Check out our guides to Best Art Galleries in Seoul and Upcoming Korean Modern Art Exhibitions.
📍 National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA)
30 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
🌐 www.mmca.go.kr
📞 +82-2-3701-9500
Instagram: @mmcakorea
Celebrate Chuseok with Korea’s Cultural Heritage: Free Palace Entry and Traditional Festivals
목차If you are planning to visit Korea this autumn, you are in for a truly special cultural experience. From October 3 to October 9, 2025, the Korean government is opening its most treasured cultural heritage sites—the Four Grand Palaces, Jongmyo Shrin
100-million-worth.co.kr
Discover the Best Traditional Korean Restaurants in Insadong – A Must-Visit for Food Lovers!
LIST If you're planning a trip to Seoul, one place you absolutely cannot miss is Insadong. Known for its charming traditional streets, cultural treasures, and delightful food scene, Insadong is a paradise for those who want to experience authentic Korean
100-million-worth.co.kr
5 Breathtaking Royal Palaces in Seoul You Must Visit
Discover Seoul’s 5 Most Breathtaking Palaces – A Must-Visit for History Lovers!Step into Korea’s royal past by exploring Seoul’s five stunning palaces, each offering a unique blend of history, culture, and breathtaking architecture. Wander through
100-million-worth.co.kr