The Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong is set to host the opening reception for "KITSCH & POP: Korean Pop Art Now," a groundbreaking exhibition that explores the evolution of Korean Pop Art within the context of contemporary global culture. The event, scheduled for Thursday, October 2, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, will take place at the Korean Cultural Center located on the 6th-7th floors of Block B, PMQ, at 35 Aberdeen Street in Central Hong Kong.

This significant exhibition is co-organized by the Seoul Museum of Art and the Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong, representing a collaborative effort to showcase Korean contemporary art on an international stage. The exhibition aims to revisit Korean Pop Art, which has been identified as an important yet often under-recognized current in the history of Korean contemporary art. The timing of this exhibition is particularly relevant as it situates Korean Pop Art within the broader context of global contemporary art, shaped by the worldwide rise of K-pop and K-culture phenomena.

Following its successful presentation in Shanghai, the exhibition is now traveling to Hong Kong, bringing together an impressive collection of works by two distinct generations of Korean artists. The exhibition features a carefully curated intergenerational dialogue that demonstrates how the visual language of Pop Art has been reinterpreted and expanded within a specifically Korean context. This approach allows viewers to understand the evolution and unique characteristics of Korean Pop Art across different time periods and cultural shifts.

The younger generation of artists prominently featured in the exhibition includes those who have been active in the post-internet era since the 2010s. These contemporary artists include Sunpil Don, Mirim Chu, Sangho Noh, Raejung Sim, Sungsil Ryu, and Jeongsu Woo, each bringing their unique perspective to Korean Pop Art in the digital age. Their works reflect the influence of internet culture, social media, and the globalization of Korean culture through the Korean Wave.

Alongside these contemporary voices, the exhibition also showcases the work of established artists who began exploring Korean Pop Art in the early 2000s. These pioneering figures include Kyoung Tack Hong, Donghyun Son, MeeNa Park, and Shinhye Kim, who laid the foundation for what would become a distinctive Korean approach to Pop Art. Their inclusion in the exhibition provides crucial historical context and demonstrates the continuity and evolution of this artistic movement over the past two decades.

"KITSCH & POP: Korean Pop Art Now" is presented as part of the Touring K-Arts project, which represents a significant cultural initiative supported by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in partnership with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE). This governmental and institutional support underscores the importance of promoting Korean contemporary art internationally and fostering cultural exchange through artistic expression.

The opening reception will feature special presentations by curator Ms. Bobae Lee and participating artist Ms. Mirim Chu, who will provide insights into the exhibition's themes and artistic vision. The evening's program includes an opening ceremony and curator's tour scheduled for 7:00 PM, offering attendees an in-depth understanding of the featured works and their significance within the broader context of Korean contemporary art. This curatorial guidance will help visitors appreciate the nuanced ways in which Korean artists have engaged with and transformed the Pop Art tradition to reflect their unique cultural perspective and contemporary experiences.