K Auction will hold its May sale on May 27 at its headquarters in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, offering 83 works by Korean modern and contemporary masters with a combined estimated value of around 10.4 billion won. Highlights include Suh Do-ho's large-scale installation "Cause & Effect" (estimated 280 million to 600 million won), Kim Whan-ki's untitled 1969 painting from his New York period (estimated 780 million to 1.5 billion won), and Yoo Young-kuk's abstract landscape "Mountain" from 1988 (estimated 400 million to 800 million won). The sale also features works by Dansaekhwa artists Yun Hyong-keun, Park Seo-bo, and Lee Ufan, alongside contemporary artists Angel Otero, Anna Park, and Woo Kuk-won.
This auction matters because it showcases the sustained strength of the Korean art market, with top-tier modernists like Park Soo-keun, Kim Whan-ki, and Yoo Young-kuk commanding high estimates alongside internationally recognized contemporary figures such as Suh Do-ho and Paik Nam-june. The inclusion of Dansaekhwa artists reflects ongoing global interest in Korean abstract art, while the substantial total estimate underscores K Auction's role as a key barometer for Korean art sales.