Featured Events in Seoul in May, 2025 (July Updated)

What if the whole world was a canvas and we were the protagonists walking on it? With 1.1 million fans, Werner Bronckhorst, a representative contemporary artist, brings you the experience of making everyday life into art. You can enjoy it at the first exhibition in Asia at Ground Seesaw West Village. This exhibition has a new collection of original paintings specially made for Korean audiences and exhibits more than 100 of his representative works. Feel the small special things in everyday life in the vast world. From the dynamic city scenery unfolding on the gray asphalt road, to the leisurely afternoon sunshine strolling on the green grass, to the moment of immersion in the blue waves. When you gaze at the daily slices transferred on the canvas, the days you face every day will become particularly precious. We invite you to join this journey and make this moment as special as the scene in the work.

The exhibition showcases more than 170 works created through a variety of techniques and media, including seven unpublished original paintings that are being made public for the first time in the world. The exhibition specifically reinterprets the ceiling paintings of the Opera Garnier in Paris and the stained glass of the Hadassah Medical Center through media art, providing an immersive art experience that allows light and color to softly surround the space. The exhibition was carefully planned by experts, curators and architects who have conducted in-depth research on European art history. From planning to spatial interpretation, it has been carefully designed to make the works resonate with the exhibition space, allowing the audience to fully experience the color experiments and spatial perception of the objects.

Miffy enters the Magic Mailbox and encounters 70 years of memories again! Take a trip down memory lane to meet Miffy, her family and friends through the Magic Mailbox, reflect on your cherished feelings, and encounter a letter from your long-lost friend Dick Brenner.

Boramae Park in southern Seoul was transformed into a vibrant garden display as the Seoul International Garden Show kicked off on Thursday. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the show at the 400,000-square-meter (98-acre) park features 111 gardens, 21 more than last year’s edition at Ttukseom Hangang Park in eastern Seoul. The show will run through Oct. 20.

Come awaken every sense of yours! MORE TO ENJOY! MORE TO FEEL! A night that belongs only to GIRLS! A wonderful new experience is waiting for you! This night is not only entertainment, but also a time to release yourself. Lights, music, food... every detail is carefully crafted for you, just to let you forget the daily pressure and immerse yourself in unparalleled joy. Relax, laugh, dance with your girlfriends in the exclusive space for girls and experience the excitement that belongs to you!

The Space Program presented in this cultural project is Tom Sachs. One of the representative works is NASA's space exploration program. It consists of about 200 reconstructed large-scale installations and sculptures. He is 21st century space exploration, especially the Apollo program in the 1960s and 1970s. Since I became fascinated by this project, I have been working on the cutting-edge tools and technologies required for space exploration. We have been handcrafting spacecraft and other objects using everyday materials. Tom Sachs, First Moon Voyage (2007, Gagosian Gallery, Starting from Los Angeles, landing on Mars and collecting samples (2012, Park Avenue Armory in New York hosted a multi-event on Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Exploring Earth (2017, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco) Mining rare minerals from Vesta, the brightest and closest asteroid (2021, The Museum of Modern Art Hamburg has been hosting courses on space exploration. This year’s fifth mission, Space Program: Infinity, is different from previous voyages, and for the first time we’ve changed course, and humanity has not yet encountered alien life and is heading into the infinite universe. It directly explores the risks and rewards you will face. 

One third of the Earth's surface. A larger ocean than all land combined. That's the Pacific Ocean. In this vast ocean, humans set sail, found islands, and established their roots. The art, culture, and material culture created by humans on the countless islands scattered across the Pacific Ocean are collectively called 'Oceania'. The world created by people who sailed between islands, following the stars, winds, and ocean currents, unfolds unique stories of art and philosophy. The special exhibition 'Mana Moana - Art of the Sacred Sea, Oceania' is an exhibition jointly planned by the National Museum of Korea and the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in France, and introduces traditional and contemporary art from Oceania from the 18th century to the present. You can see exhibits that vividly convey the lives and philosophies of Oceania people, from canoes and sculptures, masks and musical instruments, stone statues and ornaments, to textiles. In Polynesian, ‘mana’ means the sacred power that resides in all beings, and ‘moana’ means the vast ocean. For those who have made the sacred ocean their foundation for life and a space of connection, ‘mana’ is the source of the heart that respects life, nature, and ancestors, and the power that moves the world. This worldview of mana conveys a deep realization that sees all beings, including nature, not as mere objects of use, but as companions of coexistence. Now, we would like to meet the various cultures that humans have created on this island called Earth. We hope that you will have a time filled with empathy and lingering emotions with ‘mana moana’.

A permanent exhibition held at the Bank of Korea Gallery on the second floor of the Currency Museum. Masterpieces of modern and contemporary art history are carefully selected and displayed as permanent exhibitions. Compare the painting styles of the East and the West through a variety of works and walk the path of thinking and strolling.

On November 15, the National Museum of Korea opened its first dedicated exhibition room for the Oegyujanggak Uigwe. Located on the second floor of the National Museum of Korea’s permanent exhibition hall, this exhibition room is a space where visitors can only view the Oegyujanggak Uigwe, allowing them to fully experience the Oegyujanggak Uigwe.

2024.12.20 Permanent exhibition "Gustav Klimt: Eternal Beauty" tells the story of the golden painter Klimt's life of pursuing true beauty through his works. Freedom and love shine with golden light, from the mysterious birth of life to the noble death. Klimt's timeless and beautiful story begins here.

The Seoul Museum of Art will hold the first solo exhibition in Korea, "Sararan", by Kawashima Kotori, a Japanese photographer who captures the beauty of existence, at the Seoul Museum of Art M2 from February 26 to October 12. This large exhibition held on two floors of the Seoul Museum of Art M2 will showcase the artist's entire creative world with 309 works, from his first photography series "BABY BABY" to his representative work "Future-chan" that is both artistic and popular, and new works that capture the cityscape of Seoul. The exhibition will also feature C-Print and gelatin silver prints created by the artist himself using analog methods.

The modern art in the Leeum Museum of Art covers international art trends from Korean modern and contemporary art to Asian and Western modern art, and is the result of the Samsung Cultural Foundation's long-standing belief and passion for the development of Korean culture and art. In 2025, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Samsung Cultural Foundation, the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, provides a place for people to appreciate its collection of modern art from a new perspective. The focus of this exhibition is not on representative collections of well-known museums, but on works that have never been made public. In addition, new works recently acquired by the museum are introduced to enrich the artistic dialogue that reflects the changing times. The exhibition is not arranged chronologically or thematically, but encourages the audience to discover more relationships between works through visual or conceptual juxtaposition, thus creating a multi-layered, non-linear artistic experience. The opening works of the exhibition include Auguste Rodin's The Burghers of Calais, Alberto Giacometti's Lady Giant III, and Jan Bo's Our Country (Part), echoing the history and identity of the Leeum collection that connects modern and contemporary art. Starting with the wonderful encounter with paintings by Mark Rothko and Zhang Xuzhen, to the major works of modern masters Sol LeWitt, Richard Deacon, Carl Andre, and Robert Rauschenberg, which were made public for the first time since the opening of the Leeum, as well as the recently acquired works of Louise Nevelson, Hannah Darboven, and Lee Bontesseu, they complement each other and further enrich the depth and breadth of the art collection of the Leeum. In addition, the architecturally transformed M2 exhibition space will provide visitors with a special visual experience, allowing them to explore the space and works in a whole new way. Through this exhibition, we hope to examine the evolution and changes of modern art through the collections accumulated by Leeum Art Museum over the past decades, reflect on the contemporary context and artistic significance of the works, and feel the complex levels of art through the multi-level dialogue between the works. - Leeum Art Museum

HUNKY SHOW is a groundbreaking, sensational male dance performance musical, curated exclusively for female audiences who want to make their day special. Experience a new form of live performance that goes beyond mere spectacle, allowing you to directly participate and interact with the captivating performances of Korean fitness models and performance artists who appear in each episode. Also included are customer participation performances, anniversary specials, and even photo time and fan service to provide more than just viewing pleasure.

Unveiling an exhibition of couture creations by British fashion muse Daphne Guinness. “432Mhz: Harmonics. The World of Daphne Guinness” is an immersive, multimedia exhibition by Ground Seesaw, running from 25 April to 10 August 2025. This groundbreaking exhibition brings to life the creative world of Daphne Guinness, showcasing her original couture pieces, accessories, jewellery, photography, designer illustrations, video installations, digital art, holograms and interactive AI experiences. A beloved muse to fashion legends such as Alexander McQueen and John Galliano, Daphne Guinness curated one of the most prestigious collections in fashion history for over 30 years.

With the theme of "Every Day Can Be a Holiday", Elizabeth Langley makes everyone's ordinary day like an exciting holiday. Elizabeth's work stems from her passion to make the world a happier place, which all began with the various leisure activities she experienced in the natural environment of Australia during her childhood. In her works, she constantly captures happy memories of daily life through various activities such as swimming, sunbathing on the beach, skiing, cycling, etc. Elizabeth's work has the power to bring a sense of happiness in a busy moment. This exhibition will evoke a happy day hidden deep in our hearts and become a happy journey to experience "healing" and rest.

A relaxing walk, a purple sky at dawn, A weekend afternoon bike ride, admiring the moon in all its shapes. The city is noisy, but the mind keeps moving forward Perhaps the closest unframed artwork is nature. You haven't noticed yet Introducing a world like a movie. The sky you look up at when leaving the exhibition hall Witness the moment that becomes a special scene face to face.

150 years ago, the Impressionist movement overturned the way people perceived the world. In the 21st century, Jonathan Belten's photographs contain the vividness of 19th century paintings. Look at the same sky every day, walk on the same streets, and meet familiar faces. Then, at a certain moment, the scenery that you are accustomed to suddenly presents itself in a completely new way. Belten calls it "super daily". Here, "seeing", the oldest way of understanding the world, is shaken by super daily experiences. To see things differently is to live differently. Start your first conversation with the scenery that you once passed by silently.

We want to remember many moments in our lives. We engrave those memories in our hearts, and sometimes we leave them in a form that we can hold in our hands. Commemoration begins with the desire not to forget precious moments. Souvenirs are small evidences of those feelings. Among the overflowing commemorations and souvenirs today, aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of commemoration? To ask ourselves the meaning of commemoration again, we look into the object called a souvenir. The desire to leave behind a special moment, The desire to share memories together, The earnest desire to hold the memories of my life in my hands. Let’s look back at the meaning of commemoration contained in a small object. What is a souvenir to you?

Around 1467, the Joseon royal family established a royal porcelain kiln in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, to produce white porcelain for the palace. Geumsari was in operation from 1734 to 1751. Geumsari is famous for producing milky white porcelain and moon jars. Through the fragments collected from Geumsari, we can see white porcelains made in Geumsari, such as moon jars.

1,000 square meters of the world's largest immersive exhibition! This is a special exhibition that allows you to vividly experience popular characters and movies by recreating Pixar scenes in life-size scenes. Just like the scenes in the movie, you become the protagonist of Pixar. Pixar, embark on an adventure into the world of imagination!

Mueck is renowned for his surrealist sculptures that raise fundamental questions about human existence, life and death. His works are so detailed that they are indistinguishable from real people, exploring all aspects of life through the human figure. The exhibition’s signature work, Mass, consists of giant human skulls that resemble a tower of death, and asks one to ponder the fundamental concepts of human existence both physically and mentally. The title alone gives one a sense of the ambiguity of the work. The word “mass” can refer to both a large amount and a huge amount, and each viewer has a different interpretation. In addition to this work, you can also see Ron Mueck’s signature work Woman, which depicts a pregnant woman. In addition, the exhibition will feature photographs and documentaries shot by Gautier de Blonde that document the creative process of Ron Mueck’s works. Through this, viewers will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the world of Ron Mueck’s work and get a glimpse into his artistic inspirations and philosophy.

Yuuri, Japan's leading singer-songwriter, has confirmed that he will perform at KSPO DOME on May 3-4, 2025. This is their second solo concert in Korea after "Yuuri Live in Seoul 2024". This is the first time a Japanese solo singer has entered KSPO DOME in 21 years since Namie Amuro. Yuuri has been praised for rewriting the history of J-pop since his debut in 2016. In the first half of this year, he topped the "Japanese Songs" category of Billboard Japan with his representative song "Betelgeuse", and on the 10th, they appeared as the headliners at Korea's largest J-pop festival "WONDERLIVET 2024", which received a warm response from domestic audiences.

Special exhibition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the debut of K-POP legend Super Junior! An experiential media exhibition space centered around the story of "Super Junior becoming a secret agent." The large 350-ping exhibition hall features mission-oriented content, a photo booth, and MD! Enjoy Super Junior's wonderful journey together.

In March 2023, the "Anime "Jujutsu Kaisen" Exhibition 'Theatrical Version Jujutsu Kaisen 0'", which started in Tokyo and toured 9 major cities in Japan including Osaka, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, and Ishikawa Prefecture, and received high praise, has been upgraded during the continuous tour, and will be held in Korea for the first time on November 23, 2024 (Saturday) with a large amount of information! This exhibition is centered on "Theatrical Version Jujutsu Kaisen 0", covering the content of the 17th and 27th seasons of the animation, presenting a rich and colorful exhibition for everyone! The exhibition is based on the concept of "experiencing the theatrical version and TV series "Jujutsu Kaisen" on site", and displays a large amount of information such as scene graphic decorations, original paintings and storyboards in the work.

To commemorate the 165th anniversary of the birth of Alphonse Mucha, the master of Art Nouveau, my art gallery will hold "Flowers of Art Nouveau: Alphonse Mucha Exhibition" from March 20, 2025 to July 13, 2025, providing audiences with the opportunity to directly appreciate Mucha's unique and symbolic art world. Art Nouveau is a unique art movement that does not follow any specific system or principles. With the rapid political, social and technological changes in Europe at the end of the 19th century, people felt the need to break away from the old order and embrace the new reality. Art Nouveau was born under such a demand of the times, and it had a significant impact on all aspects of visual art, including painting, sculpture, graphic arts, architecture, and decorative arts. Mucha's unique style, known as the "Muchaesque," combined with Slavic folk motifs, made him a representative figure of the Art Nouveau movement. This exhibition reveals how Mucha's art and philosophy expanded beyond his success and fame in France to include Czech national identity. Explore his artistic journey through more than 300 works, including his original posters, prints, drawings, book publications, and design decorations.

Kukje Gallery is pleased to present Ha Chong-Hyun, a solo exhibition of the pioneering Korean modernist, from March 20 to May 11, 2025, at K1 and Hanok. Marking Ha Chong-Hyun’s fourth solo exhibition at the gallery—his first in three years following shows in 2015, 2019, and 2022, this exhibition examines the artist’s continuous experimentation with oil paint and his commitment to exploring the materiality of painting over the past half-century. The foundation for this rigorous commitment is Ha’s ongoing inquiry into the fundamental question: "What is painting?" Through a selection of approximately 30 works created between 2009 and the present, the exhibition includes various iterations of his renowned Conjunction series—from his original monochromatic works to more recent works characterized by colorful adaptations, vibrant gestures, and naturalism. It also features major works from his Post-Conjunction series, initiated in 2009, bringing together two continuously evolving and expanding pillars of Ha’s storied artistic practice.

PKM Gallery will hold a solo exhibition "LAZY" from April 12 to May 17 by pop artist SAMBY PEN, who reinterprets contemporary pop culture with humor and satire. This special exhibition, held to commemorate the artist's 10th anniversary of his debut, will feature about 20 new paintings on the theme of modern people's "troubles", as well as merchandise made using the icons of his works and music by young musicians inspired by his works.

As part of the "Inside White Cube" initiative, White Cube Seoul will host the first solo exhibition in Asia by American artist Alex Carver (b. 1984, Boise, Idaho) in April 2025. The author explores the inner world of humans wandering in chaos, drawing inspiration from biomedical diagrams, medieval manuscripts, and Botticelli's illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy to depict the nature of human suffering and oppression. The exhibition will feature new works inspired by the opening of Dante's Inferno, the first part of Dante's 14th-century epic poem. "Inside White Cube," a project that showcases works by unaffiliated artists active in the contemporary art world but not exhibited at White Cube, aims to examine the multi-layered nature of contemporary art from various perspectives.

The 17TH SEOUL JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025 ※ Tickets/Wristbands ·Ticket/Wristband booth opening hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (local time) on the day of the event. ·All users who placed an order throughTrip.commust present their [Trip.comorder page (not a screenshot) + order phone number + order name] at the [Trip.comticket collection point opposite Gate 1 East, Olympic Park, Seoul] to exchange for paper tickets and wristbands. Entry begins at the designated time at the entrance. Due to the unpredictability of the on-site situation, it may be necessary to collect paper tickets and wristbands at different booths before 12:00 PM. Please consultTrip.combooth staff for specific on-site inquiries. ·Once you wear the entry wristband, you can prepare to enter and move freely within the venue. After wearing the entry wristband, you are allowed to exit and re-enter freely. ·If the paper ticket/wristband is lost or damaged after being received, it will not be reissued, and no refund or compensation will be provided.Trip.comassumes no responsibility. Daily entry wristbands must be used until the end of the event, and 3-day pass wristbands must be worn throughout the entire event period. Please manage them carefully. ※ Audience Guidelines ·All venues are standing only; attendees can manage their entry based on the order of arrival. ·Seat reservation within the venue is strictly prohibited. If items are left in the venue for an extended period, a no-seat-reservation notice may be attached, and items may be moved, damaged, or lost, for which the organizer is not responsible. ·Please prepare sunglasses, hats, portable hand sanitizer, etc., to cope with unpredictable weather and maintain personal hygiene. ·The event will proceed even in the rain, and issues caused by rain will not be grounds for cancellation or refund. ·Parking is limited, so please use public transportation whenever possible. ※ On-site Payment Method The official payment method for the 17th Seoul Jazz Festival is Kakao Pay. On-site payments are limited to Kakao Pay only, which can be used for transactions at official merchandise and various food and beverage stalls. (Excluding the 88 Lawn Snacks and Olympic Park Café within the Olympic Park.) Kakao Pay usage guide:http://pf.kakao.com/_TxdpBV/109524248 ※ Prohibited Items: ·Items that may pose a threat to the safety of others, such as cans/bottles/explosives/drugs/firearms, etc. ·Items that may affect others' viewing experience, such as excessively high chairs/camping gear/photography equipment, etc. ·Outside food/fast food/takeout/insulated containers with a capacity of over 20 liters. The Seoul Jazz Festival (서울재즈페스티벌) is a major music event held annually in May in Seoul, South Korea. Since its inception in 2007, the festival has grown to become one of the most representative music festivals in Asia, celebrating its 17th edition in 2025. Organized by PRIVATE CURVE, the festival centers around jazz but incorporates a variety of music genres, attracting over 60 artists each year. In recent years, its international profile has risen significantly, drawing renowned artists from around the world. The 2025 Seoul Jazz Festival will take place from May 30 (Friday) to June 1 (Sunday), spanning three days. The Olympic Park will host multiple stages, featuring a wide array of performances simultaneously. International artists include LANY, Kamasi Washington, RAYE, Eliane Elias, Thundercat, and Jacob Collier, all of whom are highly acclaimed performers. From South Korea, popular artists such as JANNABI, Doyoung (NCT), Jang Bomjun, Kwon Ji-na, LUCY, and Chae Yuri will also take the stage. The unique performances of these artists are expected to add more excitement to the festival.