Art Busan, established in 2012, is a leading premium art fair in Korea. The fair provides an exciting, artful opportunity to experience the essence of the Korean art scene. Every May, both domestically and internationally renowned galleries travel to Busan for the fair. Art Busan has been setting new records every year in the Korean art market in terms of the number of visitors and the total sales volume. With a goal of serving as a global art platform promoting and globalizing the Korean art scene and its artists, Art Busan organizes various projects with great potential, such as co-planning projects with global art institutions, collaborating with high-end designer brands, and operating of collector memberships.
Art Busan has grown steadily since its launch in 2012. In 2021 it received a record 80,000 visitors. Last year that number rose to over 100,000, surpassing the number of visitors to Kiaf Seoul and Frieze Seoul, which each saw around 70,000 visitors. Revenues have increased too, rising to ₩60 billion (US $50 million) in 2020 and ₩74.6 billion ($59 million) in 2022. A spokesperson for the fair said that the number of guests who attended the preview on 4 May was up 24%, but several galleries said they received noticeably fewer visitors and art enquiries.
Korea has been increasing its presence in the global art scene in recent years, with the art fair "Frieze" being held in Korea for the first time in 2022. In this climate of increasing interest in the Korean art scene, Art Busan is an international contemporary art fair held annually in Korea and its scale has been expanding in recent years.
Art Busan 2023 to expand, collaborate with Busan Tourism Board
Art Busan 2023, a major art fair in the southern port city, will be held early May in its largest-ever venue at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center since its inaugural fair in 2012.The leading art fair in South Korea will also collaborate with Busan Tourism Organization to offer an opportunity to experience the city during Art Busan Week from May 1 to 9. The art fair will be held from May 4 to 7 at Bexco, bringing together some 146 galleries from 22 countries.