The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA, Director Kim Sunghee) will hold a press conference on Tuesday, 7 January, to announce its 2025 exhibition plans, major projects, and operational direction.
■ Major Achievements of 2024
In the past year, the MMCA has expanded the scope of Korean art history and led art discourse domestically and internationally through overseas exhibitions of Korean art, as well as curated exhibitions that re-examine new genres and address contemporary issues.
First, ▲ the MMCA’s efforts for the global outreach of Korean art accelerated, strengthening its international influence. The exhibition The Modern and Contemporary Korean Calligraphy opened in Taiwan, attracting over 135,000 visitors, while Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea,1960s–1970s followed its Guggenheim New York presentation with a showing at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, enhancing the global stature of Korean art. In collaboration with the National Museum of Korea, the MMCA confirmed the joint hosting of Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared at leading museums in the United States and United Kingdom.
Additionally, ▲ exhibitions such as Korean Embroidery in Modern Times: The Birds Trying to Catch the Sun and Unfolding the Dynamics of Modern Ceramics in Korea provided an art-historical redefinition of the fields of embroidery and ceramics, which had previously lacked sufficient research. Exhibitions including Jung Youngsun: For All That Breathes on Earth and Performative Home: Architecture for Alternative Living marked opportunities to expand Korean art history into landscape architecture and architecture.
Furthermore, exhibitions including Connecting Bodies: Asian Women Artists and What an Artificial World addressed contemporary issues such as Asian women and artificial intelligence, establishing the MMCA’s leadership in domestic and global art discourse.
▲ In terms of collection acquisitions, the museum successfully acquired artworks by both Korean and international artists—including Lee Jungseop and John Baldessari—as well as the Nam June Paik photography and film archive and the Woo Kyusung architecture archive. ▲ To further disseminate Korean art internationally, the museum collaborated with overseas Korean cultural centers, implementing teaching materials on contemporary Korean art in locations including Nigeria and South Africa, thereby expanding its educational outreach abroad.
Additionally, the museum’s social responsibilities and contributions were positively recognized, ▲ earning the Minister’s Prize (first place) at the Ministry of Education’s Character and Citizenship Education Competition and the Encouragement Award at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Responsible Management Agency Service Innovation Sharing Conference. ▲ Through initiatives such as sharing seven online exhibition video programs—including Korean Embroidery in Modern Times: The Birds Trying to Catch the Sun, Figurative Paintings in Korea, 1960s–1970s, and Performative Home: Architecture for Alternative Living—with 13 Korean Cultural Centers abroad in the UK, France, Canada, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington DC, the museum continued to spread Korean art worldwide.
Moreover, the museum reinforced its public role as a national art institution by ▲ distributing its collection management system to 49 museums in total, engaging in collaborative exhibitions with regional art museums, supporting conservation treatment for 7 museums, providing 8 conservation education programs, offering on-site conservation consulting to 17 organizations, and providing 12 free rentals of the collection of the Sharing Art Bank for programming focusing on culturally underprivileged and marginalized groups. These efforts have significantly contributed to enhancing public enjoyment and appreciation of art and culture.
■ Major Projects and Operational Direction for 2025
In 2025, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) will ▲ present large-scale permanent exhibitions at MMCA Seoul and MMCA Gwacheon, while collaborative exhibitions in conjunction with renowned museums in Asia, Europe, and the US are being showcased across continents worldwide to expand the global presence of Korean art. Additionally, the MMCA is working to strengthen its foundational framework and capacity through ▲ introducing MMCA Gwacheon Department and MMCA Cheongju Department to enhance their autonomy and ▲ securing new storage facilities. Furthermore, the museum will ▲ invite international scholars to expand global discourse on Korean art and launch a joint publishing project as well as ▲ MMCA Art Lab at MMCA Seoul’s Education Center to usher in a new era of museum education.
I. Reintroduction of Permanent Exhibitions of the Nation’s Representative Works and Enhanced Cultural Diplomacy
In 2025, the MMCA will present large-scale permanent exhibitions at MMCA Seoul and MMCA Gwacheon, offering a comprehensive overview of Korean modern and contemporary art through its nationally representative collection. Dedicating approximately 3,300 square meters of exhibition space at MMCA Gwacheon and 1,550 square meters at MMCA Seoul, the museum will feature a highlight exhibition of the finest works, paired with permanent educational programs, providing visitors with a multidimensional experience of the essence of Korean art. Furthermore, the museum will host thematic exhibitions addressing contemporary social issues such as bodily diversity and the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, alongside retrospectives of pioneering Korean artists such as Lee Daiwon, Kim Tschang-yeul, and Shin Sangho. New experimental projects in contemporary art will also debut, showcasing innovative and boundary-pushing works. In addition, joint exhibitions and touring exhibitions will be held in partnership with institutions in Singapore, Japan, Italy, China, the United States, and more, strengthening the MMCA’s role as a leading institution for cultural diplomacy on the global stage.
II. Establishment of MMCA Gwacheon Department and MMCA Cheongju Department
To enhance public service through greater autonomy at MMCA Gwacheon and MMCA Cheongju, the MMCA restructured its organizational framework effective 31, December, 2024. Beginning in 2025, the MMCA Gwacheon Department and MMCA Cheongju Department will operate under the direct leadership of the MMCA director. This constitutes a sub-branch system with the appointment of general managers overseeing the curatorial, administrative, and facility operations at MMCA Gwacheon and MMCA Cheongju, thereby strengthening the autonomy and accountability of each museum’s operations. Through cooperation with regional governments and communities in alignment with the local environment, each museum will distinguish its exhibition programming and other activities and operate autonomously to enhance competitiveness.
III. Securing Additional Storage Space
In response to storage saturation due to its growing collection, the MMCA plans to secure new storage facilities. In cooperation with the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO), the MMCA will explore the repurposing of the currently unused and vacant underground wing of KOMSCO’s main currency facility as a new storage area. In 2025, the museum will conduct a study on the utilization plan and facility condition survey of the currency headquarters underground wing.
In August 2024, the MMCA signed a memorandum of understanding with KOMSCO to jointly promote cultural enjoyment for the public by developing cultural products based on artworks and donating the related proceeds, among other collaborations. By securing additional storage space, the MMCA expects to partially alleviate its current issue of storage saturation, which has reached 90%, and reinforce its core functions—collection, preservation, and research—that form the backbone of the museum’s operations.
* Location: B2 level of KOMSCO Currency Headquarters, 140-10 Hwarang-ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Building Size: Total floor area 6,292.4 square meters (reinforced concrete structure)
IV. Expanding Global Outreach of the Study of Korean Art and Enhancing International Exchange
To further disseminate Korean art discourse on a global scale, the MMCA is expanding international exchange programs for domestic and international researchers and artists, as well as diversifying its range of academic and public programs with an international scope. First of all, the MMCA Research Fellowship begins in 2025 with the invitation of Professor Alexander Alberro (Columbia University). Renowned contemporary art researchers, such as Professor Hal Foster (Princeton University, scheduled for 2027), will be invited in turn to reside in Korea for a set period, immersing themselves in the local contemporary art scene. By planning lectures, seminars, and other related public programs, the MMCA aims to facilitate intellectual exchange with domestic audiences.
Meanwhile, the MMCA–Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam Joint Publishing Project, based on Korea-Netherlands joint study and research, is underway. With this project, both institutions will contribute to enhancing international communication and scholarly cooperation through the collaborative on- and offline publication of a research journal.
V. Establishment of a Permanent Education Space at MMCA Seoul’s Education Center
The MMCA will renovate the second floor of MMCA Seoul’s Education Center in its entirety to establish a MMCA Art Lab (tentative name) where all family members, including children and teenagers, can engage with contemporary art in various forms and experience art-creation alongside artists. This new space will feature a dedicated exhibition area for children, archive exhibitions, and a family lounge, along with interactive and multidimensional programs that are permanently available. These initiatives will serve to include diverse ages and communities—young future generations, older generations post-retirement, and individuals of all abilities. It will also strive to support flourishing post-pandemic daily life, and offer a new paradigm for museum education.
■ 2025 Exhibition Plans
As the nation’s leading art museum, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) stages approximately 20 exhibitions and projects each year across its four museums. As Korea’s only national art museum, it actively responds to diverse social demands, broadening the horizons of Korean art and expanding its presence on the global stage.
In the new year, the MMCA will continue to present exhibitions fulfilling its social responsibilities.
First, to increase public accessibility to art, large-scale permanent exhibitions will be introduced at MMCA Seoul and MMCA Gwacheon, allowing visitors to enjoy representative works of Korean art year-round. Since the museum’s founding in 1969 with zero holdings, the collection has grown to over 11,800 works. Notably, with the 2021 donation by the late Lee Kun-hee, the quality of its collection significantly improved. Having completed a successful two-year tour at 10 regional venues with a total attendance of 720,000 visitors, the Lee Kun-hee Collection returns to be showcased extensively in these permanent exhibitions. At MMCA Gwacheon, approximately 3,300 square meters of space will present works from the 1900s to the 1980s, arranged by era, theme, and artist. Meanwhile, at MMCA Seoul, Galleries 1 and 2, spanning 1,550 square meters, will feature a highlight exhibition of the finest works from the 1960s to the present. With annual updates, these permanent exhibitions will offer ongoing access to key modern and contemporary Korean artworks.
Second, the MMCA will continue to host thematic exhibitions addressing social issues of the times. ▲ This year, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Under Japanese occupation, the nation was a lost homeland, and after liberation and the Korean War, many became displaced from their hometowns. The Modern Nostalgia and Landscape painting will present numerous artworks capturing the longing for a homeland left behind. ▲ At MMCA Seoul, the international exhibition Looking After Each Other will explore the museum’s role in embracing body-diversity though the lens of disability, aging and care.
Third, the MMCA will contribute to expanding opportunities for contemporary Korean artists to create and present their work. The museum runs systematic support programs for artists—ranging from emerging to mid-career—through initiatives including its Changdong and Goyang Residencies, the Young Korean Artists series, the Korea Artist Prize, and solo exhibitions. ▲ In 2025, Young Korean Artists 2025, the country’s longest-running emerging artist program, will be held at MMCA Gwacheon on a large scale. ▲ In the autumn, the Korea Artist Prize 2025, in partnership with the SBS Foundation, will take place at MMCA Seoul. ▲ Additionally, the MMCA X LG OLED Series will debut in the iconic Seoul Box space at MMCA Seoul, featuring large-scale installations that leverage the space’s architectural traits. By providing production funding, the museum enables artists to realize ambitious projects and engage more broadly with the public, fostering the growth of the artistic community.
Beyond these initiatives, the MMCA will collaborate with regional art museums on various projects. ▲ In cooperation with the Cheongju Museum of Art, the MMCA Cheongju Project 2025 will be held under the theme “regeneration” at sites such as Cheongju’s Dangsan Bunker of Thought. Through touring exhibitions and other regional partnerships, the MMCA will expand cultural access points and enrich local communities.
Next, the MMCA will maintain its unique identity and present exhibitions that position Korean art within a global context. First, these include exhibitions grounded in rigorous research on Korean modern and contemporary art. ▲ In 2025, as part of the Rediscovery of Korean Modern Artist series, Surrealism and Korean Modern Arts at MMCA Deoksugung will revisit the legacy of lesser-known yet compelling modern Korean painters. Exhibitions founded on robust research and archives will spotlight major figures in Korean modern and contemporary art. ▲ At MMCA Cheongju the museum will host the exhibition Companions: Modern Art Society 1957–1960, which offers a comprehensive introduction to the Korean art scene in the late 1950s through a multi-dimensional perspective. ▲ At MMCA Deoksugung, the museum will present its first-ever retrospective on the eminent modern artist Lee Daiwon, a key figure in Korea’s modern art history. ▲ In MMCA Seoul, an exhibition dedicated to Kim Tschang-yeul—famed for his “water drop” paintings—will offer insight into his creative journey and worldview, marking the first major museum exhibition of his works since his passing. ▲ At MMCA Gwacheon, a large-scale retrospective on Shin Sangho, a master of contemporary Korean ceramics, will unfold.
Second, through major international cultural diplomacy exhibitions and international exchange shows, the MMCA will actively collaborate with the global art world and broaden the reach of Korean art. ▲ At MMCA Seoul, Australian-born sculptor Ron Mueck’s first Asian solo exhibition will display his hyperrealistic sculptures. ▲ Noteworthy among international exchange shows, to mark the 50th anniversary of Korea-Singapore diplomatic relations the MMCA will collaborate with the National Gallery Singapore’s Children’s Biennale for an exhibition titled Tomorrow We’ll Be. ▲ Furthermore, the international touring exhibition The Modern and Contemporary Ink Art of the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China, which received enthusiastic responses at MMCA Deoksugung, will travel to China. ▲ Jung Youngsun: For All That Breathes on Earth will tour Italy, and ▲ Starting at the Smithsonian in late 2025, Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared will embark on a tour of major museums in the United States and the United Kingdom. ▲ To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, Korea and Japan Contemporary Art will open in the Yokohama Museum of Art in December and then travel to MMCA Gwacheon in May 2026.
Third, MMCA Seoul will present multidisciplinary art and film programming underpinned by both contemporary social relevance and popularity. It will host ▲ approximately 10 multidisciplinary art programs throughout the course of the year under the theme of “forest,” serving as a contemplative space to engage with the Anthropocene, as well as ▲ MMCA Film and Video 2025 that introduces a variety of film and video works including documentaries on artists.
