Korea Artist Prize 2026 Finalists
The MMCA announced four finalists for the Korea Artist Prize 2026, who will participate in an exhibition starting in July.Summary
On January 21, 2026, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) announced the four finalists for the prestigious Korea Artist Prize 2025 (Artist of the Year) (co-hosted by the SBS Foundation): Lee Hai Min Sun, Lee Jungwoo, Jeon Hyunsun, and Hong Jin-hwon. Each finalist will receive 50 million KRW to support the creation of new works for the exhibition, which will serve as the final selection process and run earlier than usual, from July 24 to December 6. The winner will be announced in October 2026 after a final review, including presentations and a public discussion during the exhibition, and will receive an additional 10 million KRW prize. The article details the artistic focus of each finalist: Lee Hai Min Sun explores the conditions of existence through objects; Lee Jungwoo examines the 'failures' in technological systems, defining invisible forces as 'gravity'; Jeon Hyunsun investigates the relationship between image and space across various media; and Hong Jin-hwon investigates the sources of contemporary power in images through photography and digital media. The prize, established in 2012, expanded its eligibility in 2023 to include artists with roots in the Korean Peninsula, regardless of nationality.
(Source：ART iT)