Seoul According to: Seungjin Chung of G Gallery

Since it opened in 2013, G Gallery has established a reputation for discovering young Korean art talent and showcasing international artists in a wide range of curated exhibitions. Since 2019, the gallery has been running its ‘Great Exhibition’ programme to foster emerging artists in their twenties and thirties, with one selected each year to present a solo show. The gallery’s founder and director looks at Seoul’s evolving art landscape and its culture of striving for excellence, and recommends a good place for ‘army stew’. 

What’s great about your gallery’s location?

G Gallery is located in Cheongdam-dong, home to high-end boutiques, department stores, clinics, hair salons and restaurants, but where institutions such as Songeun, Horim Museum, Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, Louis Vuitton Foundation and HITE Collection are based. It makes it a convenient spot for collectors, so they visit more frequently (it’s also an area where many collectors live).

What changes have you seen in your neighbourhood in the last few years and in the city in general?

In the past, Cheongdam-dong had many galleries and small shops, but due to growing real estate prices and the emergence of Hannam-dong as an alternative, many relocated to other areas over the past ten years. However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, small shops have once again started to cluster in Cheongdam. And with Frieze Seoul being held at COEX nearby, many international galleries such as White Cube, Gladstone, Perrotin, König Galerie and Massimodecarlo are opening branches here.

What is the guiding ethos of G Gallery?

G Gallery is dedicated to presenting Seoul-based artists to the world and showcasing foreign artists to Seoul. We approach changing perspectives and thoughts, based on sculptural practices and viewpoints. Personally, having roots in sculpture is the reason for viewing works of all genres from a more three-dimensional perspective.

You are showing Hwang Sueyon at Frieze Seoul this year: can you say a little more about your presentation of her work?

In her work, Hwang Sueyon employs the structural principles of sculpture to subvert materials and project the body. For this year’s Frieze Seoul Focus Asia section, she is preparing a presentation that combines a poetic contrast between her ongoing ‘Paper Body’ series and the ‘Heavier’ series. The large and light sculptures made of paper stand at the edge of a diving board, just before the moment of suspended descent, while the hard and heavy sculptures made of sand sit squarely, bearing their own weight and form. Hwang’s works, created through long-term material exploration, twist the inherent forms of substances, project her own body and approach us with poetic stories.

Favourite museum or gallery in Seoul?

SeMA Bunker, a Seoul Museum of Art venue where you can see exhibitions by emerging artists or curators, is an architecturally unique old space. I also love WESS, a curatorial collective. Despite no longer having a physical space, its programme is always interesting and diverse, and can be found in various parts of Seoul. There’s also Primary Practice, where curated exhibitions are always on view, and N/A, in the Euljiro area, for the most cutting-edge sensibilities of the Korean contemporary art scene.

Last exhibition you went to?

Han Suji’s solo exhibition ‘Eye See the World–Good Afternoon’ at the non-profit space CR Collective. With its multifaceted videos presenting different dimensions, I viewed it with great interest. The massive paintings in Choi Yoonhee’s solo exhibition ‘Tuning In’ held at TINC, previously a church and now an exhibition space, were truly impressive. Additionally, Marguerite Humeau’s first Asian solo exhibition ‘DUST’ at White Cube Seoul was simply excellent.

Which emerging artists excite you at the moment?

My obvious choice is Hwang Sueyon. Although she can’t really be called an ‘emerging artist’ as she has already distinguished herself in Korea and built a remarkable career, I bring her up in the hope that her amazing works will gain more recognition. I have high expectations for her presentation at Frieze Seoul 2024. If I were to name one more, there’s Song Yehwan, whom we will be introducing in next year’s programme. Song starts from a critical perspective on standardized web environments, making work based on coding and graphic design and raising issues about situations that make users passive. She deals with really interesting topics for the current era and the future.

What’s different about the Seoul art scene from that of other cities (your local scene in particular)?

I define the Seoul art scene as having strong cohesion within groups and clear distinctions between boundaries. Koreans place great importance on the bonds within groups and relationships. At the same time, they maintain a certain looseness. These characteristics are reflected in the art scene. Seoul’s art scene is grouped into collectives, and the boundaries between them seem to be relatively obvious compared to art scenes in other cities. This can sometimes act as a barrier, but it can also be a force that creates internal solidity. Also, when there is a looseness, there is a powerful inclusiveness.

Favourite place to eat in your neighbourhood?

Cheongdam is full of Michelin-starred restaurants and long-established eateries. One of the most prominent is Mingles. This modern Korean restaurant opened a decade ago and exemplifies the renaissance of Korean dining. Recently, it was included on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.

For casual dining, Saebyukjip (새벽집) is a famous 24-hour operation. It’s known for its raw beef and tteokguk (sliced rice cake soup). Other notable restaurants are Baetgodong(뱃고동), famous for its stir-fried squid; the renowned Apgujeong Byeongangsoe Tteokbokki (압구정변강쇠떡볶이); Yeongcheonyeonghwa (영천영화), where you can eat barbecue fresh from the livestock market; Jinseong Kalguksu (진성칼국수), a secret local must-try eatery; the Chinese restaurant Cheongdambanjeom (청담반점); and Geumseong Steak Budaejjigae (금성스테이크부대찌개) where you can enjoy steak with ‘army stew’.

Best bar near G Gallery?

Currently, ZEST seems to be the hottest one. In 2023 it was ranked 18th in the world's top 50 bars, and 5th in Asia’s top 50 bars. The interior is designed with environmentally friendly wood, and ‘environmental sustainability’ and ‘zero waste’ are part of its brand identity.

If you’re looking for a more casual bar, I’d recommend Lupin in Gangnam-gu. It has no online presence whatsoever (on Google, there is a different bar with the same name.) Surprisingly, though, it’s been around for more than ten years. The only snack it offers is microwavable popcorn, but you can order in delivery food if you want. It’s like a treasure trove filled with the owner’s various collections. In the restroom there are two toilets situated side-by-side out in the open. I’ve never asked about the peculiar set-up, and have yet to muster up the courage to actually use it with another person.

Best thing about Seoul?

Seoul is fast in every respect. It responds quickly to cultural trends and fashion, and living conditions rapidly adapt and evolve. Seoul's residents are always on the move, making it a vibrant and active city.

Worst thing about Seoul?

This fast pace – often considered a positive thing – can become a disadvantage. There is intense competition here: everyone is incredibly hard-working and the culture of striving for excellence can sometimes be exhausting.

G Gallery is taking part in the Focus Asia section at Frieze Seoul, COEX, 4 – 7 September 2024.

Further Information

Limited tickets for Frieze Seoul are now on sale – don’t miss out, buy yours now. Alternatively, become a member to enjoy premier access, multi-day entry, exclusive guided tours and more.

BUY NOW

A dedicated online Frieze Viewing Room opens in the week before the fair, offering audiences a first look at the presentations and the ability to engage with the fair remotely. 

For all the latest news from Frieze, sign up to the newsletter at frieze.com, and follow @friezeofficial on Instagram, X and Frieze Official on Facebook.

^{Main image: Hwang Sueyon, Heavier, 2021. Sand, glue, copper foil, 35 x 35 x 35 cm. © Hwang Sueyon, courtesy of the artist. Photo: Lee Euirock}