Frieze has announced the opening of Frieze House Seoul, a new permanent exhibition space in the Yaksu-dong neighborhood of the Korean capital. The venue, housed in a renovated 1988 building designed by Samuso Hyoja, spans over 2,260 square feet across four floors and includes a landscaped garden with a permanent site-specific installation by SANAA. Its inaugural exhibition, "UnHouse," curated by Jaeseok Kim, features queer and emerging artists such as Anne Imhof, Catherine Opie, and Joeun Kim Aatchim, exploring themes of home, identity, and power. The space will host year-round programming, including gallery residencies and special projects, building on the model of Frieze's No 9 Cork Street in London.
This development matters because it signals Frieze's deepening commitment to Seoul as a major art market hub, providing a year-round platform for international and local galleries to connect beyond the annual Frieze Seoul fair. By offering a permanent, professionally managed space, Frieze House Seoul addresses logistical barriers that often deter international galleries from exhibiting in the city, such as finding space and navigating administrative hurdles. The initiative could further elevate Seoul's status in the global art world, fostering diverse, world-class exhibitions and strengthening the city's art ecosystem during events like Seoul Art Week.