"Frieze Seoul 2026" Report: Does Seoul Still Have Its Former Centripetal Force?
Despite a large turnout, the 5th Frieze Seoul exhibited a thinning tension and centripetal force, signaling a shift in its appeal.Summary
The 5th Frieze Seoul was held from September 2-5 at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, featuring 133 galleries from 30 countries and regions. Combined with Kiaf Seoul on the lower floors, the event reached a scale of 308 galleries, but this will be the final year at this venue as Frieze moves to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) from 2027. The report observes that while the venue was not empty, the unique tension and dense energy of the "first choice" buying period on opening day felt diluted compared to the past. This observation was mirrored by a calmer opening reception for Ku Jung-ah's solo exhibition at the Leeum Museum of Art. The article concludes that Seoul demonstrated a clear distinction between mere crowd density and genuine centripetal force.
(Source：Tokyo Art Beat)