About ARKO and the Korean Pavilion

The Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale was established by ARKO(Arts Council Korea) in 1995 and, has functioned as a bridge for Korea's contemporary art to enter the world stage. ARKO was established in 1973 in accordance with the Culture and Arts Promotion Act of Korea. Its ultimate goals are to raise the quality of cultural life for all Koreans and to provide a vision of a more promising future for Korea. Many of ARKO's programs aim to cultivate the artistic creativity of artists and to promote an appreciation of the arts among the public.

Past exhibitions at the Korean Pavilion

June 11 - October 15, 1995
46th International Art Exhibition
Artists: Hun Kwak, In-kyeum Kim,
Soo-cheon Jeon, Hyong-keun Yun
Commissioner: Il Lee
Soo-cheon Jeon won a special prize

September 15 - November 17, 1996
6th International Architecture Exhibition
Works: National Museum of Korea, Catholic Church of Myong Dong
Commissioner: Seok-won Kang

June 15 - November 9, 1997
47th International Art Exhibition
Artists: Hyung-woo Lee, Ik-joong Kang
Commissioner: Kwang-soo Oh
Ik-joong Kang won a special prize

June 12 - November 7, 1999
48th International Art Exhibition
Artists: Lee Bul, Sang-kyoon Noh
Commissioner: Misook Song
Lee Bul won a special prize

June 18 - October 29, 2000
7th International Architecture Exhibition
Architects: Min Choi, Kun-young Cho,
Sang-hae Lee, Kun-hyuck Ahn,
Sang-hyun Lee, Dong-kun Kim et al.
Commissioner: Seok-chul Kim

June 12 - November 7, 2001
49th International Art Exhibition
Artists: Michael Joo, Do-ho Suh
Commissioner: Kyung-mee Park

September 7 - November 3, 2002
8th International Architecture Exhibition
Architects: Young-joon Kim, Jong-kyu Kim + Jun-sung Kim, Hyun-sik Min + Min-ah Lee, Helen Ju-hyun Park,
Kyu-sung Woo, Jong-ho Yi, Sung-yong Joh
Commissioner: Jong-sung Kim

June 14 - November 2, 2003
50th International Art Exhibition
Artists: Inkie Whang, Yiso Bahc, Seoyonug Chung
Commissioner: Hong-hee Kim

September 12 - November 7, 2004
9th International Architecture Exhibition
Architects: Kwangsoo Kim, Zeho Song, Sukyeon Yu
Commissioner: Guyon Chung

June 12 - November 6, 2005
51st International Art Exhibition
Artists: Beom Kim, Sora Kim, Gimhongsok, NAKION, Sungshik Moon, Kiwon Park, Park Sejin, Yiso Bahc,
Young-hwan Bae, Nakhee Sung, Hein-Kuhn Oh, Jewyo Rhii, Yeondoo Jung, Choi Jeong-hwa, Ham Jin
Commissioner: Sun Jung Kim

September 9 - November 19, 2006
10th International Architecture
Exhibition Architects: Wook Choi, Chan-joong Kim, Hun Kim, Seung-hoy Kim, Hae-won Shin
Commissioners: Sung-yong Joh, Jong-ho Yi, Moonkyu Choi

June 10 - November 21, 2007
52nd International Art Exhibition
Artists: Hyungkoo Lee
Commissioner: Soyeon Ahn

September 14 - November 23, 2008
11th International Architecture Exhibition
Critical Topic: Paju Book City As Culture Scape
Commissioner: Seung H-Sang
Co-Commissioner: Francisco Sanin