Featured Events in South Korea in July, 2025 (July Updated)

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.

To commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the normalization of relations between the Republic of Korea and Japan, the National Museum of Korea and the Tokyo National Museum have joined forces to present Japanese Art from Four Perspectives, a special exhibition that shines a new light on Japanese art through four unifying themes. Through the years, these two institutions have closely collaborated on numerous projects aimed at promoting understanding of their respective histories and cultures. These efforts have have now led to this momentous exhibition illuminating Japanese art for a Korean audience. Featuring sixty-two works specially selected by the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum of Korea, the exhibition is designed to immerse visitors in both the visual beauty and emotional sentiment of Japanese art. To this end, Japanese art is considered from four fascinating perspectives, in terms of its splendid ornamentation (kazari), the contrasting aesthetics of restraint (hankazari), emotions related to the ephemeral transformations of nature (aware), and a light-hearted spirit of humor and leisure (asobi). Here, these four elements are organically interwoven to reflect the lives and worldview of the Japanese people. Thus, the exhibition offers the unique opportunity to experience not only the visual allure of Japanese art, but also the profound insight and emotion that it embodies. It is our hope that these four fundamental perspectives will help to provide visitors with a deeper appreciation of Japanese art and a broader understanding of Japanese culture as a whole.

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.

This exhibition features 27 works by 19 artists. It exhibits works by a number of contemporary artists, including Takashi Murakami, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Othonier and Julien Opie. It focuses on real-life issues and illuminates topics involving social dilemmas through various forms of contemporary art such as painting, sculpture, and installation. The goal is to explore various issues from the perspective of the writer and to spark new conversations, rather than one correct answer. The title of this exhibition, "Ditto and Veto," is a combination of two seemingly contradictory words, combining "Ditto" (same) with "Veto" (Latin, prohibition). As the title suggests, the exhibition aims to explore the nature of social conflict through the messages conveyed by artists in the positive and negative oppositional structures that exist in modern society, and to present a more complex perspective that transcends the boundaries of the dichotomy.

As the sun sets over Jeju's Old Town, the ancient venues of Jeju Muwana come alive with light, sound and cultural energy. The Jeju Muwana Night Tour, also known as "Gyullim Yahaeng" (귤림야행), invites visitors to travel through centuries of Joseon history illuminated by citrus-colored lights. Held on select evenings between May and October, this immersive experience blends traditional storytelling, live traditional performances and contemporary styles in a setting that was once the heart of Jeju's governance.

Curated by Sunghui Lee Assisted by Sunju Lee Graphic Design by Eunjoo Hong and Hyungjae Kim Exhibition Architecture: Junho Kim Shipping & Installation: June Art Hosted by HITE Foundation

This year, the festival will expand its food trucks from 15 to 25, with 12 to 13 teams rotating every two weeks to provide more development opportunities for small businesses. The event aims to enhance the competitiveness of small Korean cuisine businesses and showcase a wider variety of Korean cuisine to tourists. The food truck lineup now covers 14 Korean dishes, an increase from 8 last year. In addition to last year's popular specialties such as Korean spicy noodles, spicy chicken and dried persimmon cheese rolls, many new items will be launched, including BBQ Vietnamese bread and puffed rice ice cream. As part of the city's climate action, all meals will be served in reusable containers. Live performances will also be arranged this year to bring a more pleasant experience to tourists. Multilingual self-service terminals and QR code payment options will also be provided on site to facilitate international tourists.

Su Dongpo, a great writer and painter in the Song Dynasty of China, once said that the true meaning of painting lies not in the faithful imitation of the object, but in the freehand brushwork - that is, expressing the feelings of the literati. Compared with Western abstract painting, which went through a specific art history process from the late 19th century to the early 20th century and finally appeared as a combination of formal elements and individual subjectivity; East Asian painting is rooted in the tradition of Chinese literati painting, which regards painting as a carrier of spiritual expression. In Western modernism, when the artistic impulse cannot be satisfied through simple realistic reproduction, it turns to increasingly deepened abstract expression; while East Asian painting has always been an intellectual tool that enables artists to transcend the shackles of realism and directly point to the expression of philosophical ideas.

When the summer heat keeps everyone indoors during the day, there’s no better way to make the most of the long evenings than at Starry Night Busan 2025: Nighttime Revelry. This lively summer series turns a Busan night into an adventure, offering locals and visitors a fun and refreshing way to escape the heat and explore the city after dark. Since its launch in 2022, Night Festa has been celebrating Busan’s vibrant nightlife with programming that invites everyone to explore, relax and enjoy. This year, the festival returns with nine unique events across the city. From August 14 to 16, families with young children can visit the new Science & Magic Kids Night Playground at the Busan Science Museum. This fun event combines hands-on science experiments with enchanting magic shows. Music lovers can check out the Night Music Campicnic and Travel Show at Dadaepo Beach every Friday and weekend night from September 5 to 14. Watch live performances and enjoy one of Busan’s most stunning sunsets. Don’t miss the Night Market at Hwamyeong Eco Park, where the late summer breeze blows pop-up stalls serving traditional Korean drinks and delicious street food. A festival favorite, the market is open Thursday to Sunday from September 18 to October 19.

The Seoul Illustration Exhibition is a professional exhibition representing the field of illustration. This is an art festival where various artists in the fields of painting, action, storytelling and graphics participate to promote their works and communicate directly with the audience.

The National Museum of Korea is hosting a special exhibition titled “Conquering the World on Two Feet” to commemorate the 80th anniversary of liberation. It contains the stories of Son Ki-jeong, who ran with his country in his heart at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and his disciples who followed in his footsteps and played an active role on the world stage, as well as the moving moments of the torch relay in Seoul in 1988. “Jokpaecheonha足覇天下”, we invite you to the story of Son Ki-jeong, who spread courage and hope to the world on two feet.

Among the festivals in Korea, the Boryeong Mud Festival is one of the most attended by foreign tourists. During the festival, there are activities everywhere, tourists covered in mud can be seen everywhere and become a major sight on the streets. Men and women, young and old, regardless of you or me, have fun in the mud. These mud activities are not only fun, but also good for the skin, so they are very popular with tourists. Baoning has always been a place with beautiful scenery and abundant resources. In July 1996, 7 types of cosmetics including mud cream were successfully developed using mud on the beach near Daecheon Beach in Boryeong-si. Boryeong mud cosmetics can emit far-infrared rays that are beneficial to the human body, and are also rich in ingredients with skin care effects such as germanium, minerals, and bentonite. 's confirmation. The Boryeong Mud Festival is held at Daecheon Beach, which is famous for its shell powder white sandy beach, where you can experience sea bathing and mud bathing. In another entertainment facility, the Mud Recuperation Amusement Park, various entertainment programs and related activities such as large mud pools, mud wrestling, mud skateboarding, mud coaching, mud sailing, etc. are carried out every day for tourists to watch or participate in the experience. At the same time, you can also visit the beautiful Epitaxy Island and the 78 large and small islands around it. There are also 36 precious cultural heritages, which made the city of Boryeong famous in the world and made the Baoyeong mud cosmetics widely known.

The Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Splashing Festival takes place in the cleanest places, such as the Tamjin River, Jangheung Dam Lake, and Deungyangman Beach. With the familiar theme of "water," this summer festival hosts a variety of programs for those who want to escape the heat. Major programs include the "Salsu Battle Street Parade" and the "World's Largest Water Fight," where locals and tourists alike gather to participate. Water guns are a must! Visitors can easily find water guns and water balloons at the festival. There's also an underwater tug-of-war, a fun reenactment of Janghyung's "Gossam Tug of War," which is attended by tens of thousands of people.

Experience the excitement of TWICE《THIS IS FOR》WORLD TOUR - INCHEON at the Inspire Arena in Incheon. This highly anticipated event will take place from July 19 to July 20, 2025. Don't miss out on this unforgettable opportunity to see TWICE live in concert. Get your tickets now and be a part of this incredible experience.

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.

Daegu, South Korea’s vibrant city known for its cultural charm and culinary delights, is inviting international visitors to experience one of the country’s most popular summer festivals—the 2025 Daegu Chicken and Beer Festival. The event, scheduled for July 2-6, 2025, will combine two of South Korea's most beloved cuisines: fried chicken and maekju (beer), giving rise to the now-famous "Fried Chicken and Maekju Festival." Held in the scenic Duru Park, the Fried Chicken Festival offers more than just food and drink, it is a cultural experience that showcases Korea's vibrant nightlife, music and hospitality. Past events have attracted more than one million visitors, making it one of the largest and most lively food festivals in Asia.

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.

The Buyeo Sudong Lotus Festival has been recognized as an excellent festival by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for many years in a row. The festival is held in July every year when the lotus flowers are in full bloom during the summer. The theme of the festival is an ancient love story, and the programs and performances are centered around telling the story. The design of the festival venue complements the surrounding natural environment and is the ideal backdrop for taking memorable photos with family and friends.

The Jeju Summer Flower Festival is a festival where beautiful daffodils that reach into the sky are displayed on a scale of over a kilometer. Here, you can see, feel, and enjoy the charming beauty of the scarlet flower rain.

Our first exhibition planned for 2025 will be a solo exhibition by Pierre Huyghe, a world-renowned artist who explores contemporary social issues from a multidisciplinary perspective, from ecology to technoscience. This is Pierre Huyghe's first solo exhibition in a Korean museum, and includes new works produced in collaboration with the Pinault Collection Punta della Dogana in Venice and the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. It presents the ecosystems where humans and non-humans coexist through video, sound, sculpture and installation.

Seoul: A series of concert films and music visuals under the theme "Asian Hybe Film Festival" starring four artists will kick off in cinemas on July 10 and run for four days in nine territories (South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan) and in Japan until August 7.

Feeling overwhelmed by work "rat race" and struggling to adapt to life? When hustling in a foreign land, there's always a mix of bitterness and helplessness. Why not dissolve it all with laughter? Join "the godfather of Chinese stand-up comedy" Joe Wong at Whitewave Art Center in Seoul,Korea, on July 19 for a relaxed and joyous evening! With his signature humor, he will share the ups and downs of overseas Chinese life, chat about hilarious cultural clashes, and help you find resonance through laughter! From workplace struggles to daily routines, from identity crises to cultural adaptation, Joe Wong's latest jokes might just mirror our real lives. This time, you don't have to fly to the White House or be the U.S. President. Just grab a ticket on Trip.com , and join us!

In 2025, to commemorate its 60th anniversary, Samsung Cultural Foundation will launch various exhibitions at the Leeum Art Museum and Hoam Art Museum, combining classical and modern art to deepen cultural exchanges and expand participation. The Leeum Art Museum will present the most influential contemporary artist Pierre. The solo exhibition of Pierre Huyghe (1962-) opens, and it is also his first solo exhibition in Korea. The exhibition features 14 important works jointly sponsored by the Leeum Art Museum and the Punta della Dogana Museum of Modern Art in Venice, covering video, sound, sculpture and installation, and builds the museum space into an ecosystem where humans and non-humans coexist, becoming a continuous field of learning and change. In the second half of the year, a solo exhibition of Lee Ufan (1936-) will be launched to examine the relationship between technology and human beings, and a traveling exhibition is planned to be held at the M+ Museum in Hong Kong. In the first half of the year, Hoam Art Museum will hold the "Qian Zhai Zheng Yu" exhibition, cooperating with South Korea's Masong Art and Cultural Foundation to display more than 120 classic works covering real landscapes, figures, and flower and bird paintings; in the second half of the year, it will launch Louise. The solo exhibition of Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) displays sculptures, paintings, artist diaries, etc., and deeply explores her inner world.

The Buckwheat Flower Festival is held on the Boromwat Wind Plain under the blue sky and white clouds of Jeju Island. It is a representative spring festival of Jeju Island, and the white sea of ​​flowers presents a spectacular scene. During the festival, visitors can enjoy the beautiful buckwheat flowers and feel the vitality of spring in Jeju Island. Experience a special spring day in Boromwat and feel the mood and leisure of nature.

Gallery Chosun presents Sinabrau, a duo exhibition by Yohan Hàn and Achraf Touloub. This exhibition builds upon over a decade of dialogue and collaboration between the two artists. Over the years, Hàn and Touloub have gradually immersed themselves in each other’s artistic worlds, and this presentation offers a visual structure that gives form to the resonance and traces accumulated through that process.

Barakat Contemporary presents Shadows under water, the first-ever solo exhibition of works by German artist Ulla von Brandenburg to come to Korea.Von Brandenburg studied stage design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe and fine art at the University of Fine Arts of Hamburg. Now based in Paris, her active ongoing practice employs the approaches and methodologies of theater, stage, and performance art to address various cultural and social issues that have emerged at different historical moments, exploring ways in which specific narratives, rituals, and symbols of the past have come to shape contemporary society. Drawing inspiration from classical literature, expressionist theater, and pre-Freudian psychoanalysis, von Brandenburg works with recurring themes and imagery across a wide range of media that spans performance, theater, video, two-dimensional works, painting, fabric, installation, sculpture, and stage design.

Perrotin Seoul is pleased to present Time Blossom, a solo exhibition by Kwang Young Chun. Chun has developed a distinctive visual language that bridges tradition and modernity, East and West, through his sculptural exploration of hanji, traditional Korean paper. Expanding beyond ink on paper, he has continually pushed the boundaries between painting and sculpture with his Aggregation series—compositions of tightly clustered, triangular forms wrapped in hanji.

Skipper Gallery presents “Dialogue II,” a two-person exhibition featuring works by Prabhavati Mepail and Lee Soo-kyung, in Seoul on May 27. This exhibition is the second chapter of the “Dialogue” series, which began when the gallery moved to a new location in March this year.

LKIF presents an exhibition of new works by Raphael Barratt. The show, titled Illuminated, marks Barratt’s first solo exhibition in Seoul.In this show, Barratt presents her latest paintings that hum with a quiet pulse. Through a finely tuned attention to color and the subtle interplay of figures, moments of intimate observation unfold into open, near-abstract spaces where fleeting impressions gain lasting form.