Korean auction houses to feature returned heritage and modern art masterpieces

Major Korean auction houses Seoul Auction and K Auction are set to hold significant sales featuring rare cultural heritage and modern art masterpieces.

Seoul Auction will host its 195th art auction, featuring 101 items with a low estimate totaling approximately 8.5 billion won. A highlight includes the first public appearance of four cultural heritage pieces returned from Japan, such as Kim Hong-do’s ‘Baeksenoduta’. The auction also features works by Park Su-geun, Park Seo-bo, and Yayoi Kusama’s ‘Pumpkin’, alongside Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe series.

K Auction will hold a September auction featuring 117 items valued at 11 billion won. A notable collection includes 207 newspaper illustrations from the late 1950s (1956–1959) created by 61 prominent Korean modern artists, including Park Su-geun, Chang Ucchin, and Kim Ki-chang. This collection is noted for its high historical value, as many pieces include clearly recorded production years and artist names.