Gwangju City Appoints Yoon Ik as New Director of City Art Museum

Creating an Open Museum Together with Citizens

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong is taking a commemorative photo after presenting the appointment certificate to newly appointed Gwangju Museum of Art Director Yoon Ik in the reception room on the 3rd floor of City Hall on the morning of the 17th. Photo by Gwangju City

The city of Gwangju has appointed Yoon Ik, former chief director of Art Gwangju, as the new director of the Gwangju Museum of Art, officially commissioning him on the 17th. It is the first time in about seven years, since September 2018, that a local figure has been selected for the position of museum director.

Director Yoon graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Chonnam National University, earned a master's degree in Fine Arts from Chung-Ang University Graduate School, a master's degree in Plastic Arts from Paris 8 University Graduate School, and a doctorate in Plastic Arts from Paris 1 University Graduate School. He has also served as head of the Curatorial Research Office at the Gwangju Museum of Art, chief director of the Gwangju Media Art Festival, and chief director of the Gwangju International Art Fair (Art Gwangju), maintaining an active presence in the local art scene.

In particular, over the past four years, he has been credited with significantly contributing to the growth of the local art market and transforming the Gwangju International Art Fair (Art Gwangju) into an art culture festival enjoyed by citizens.

The city expects that Director Yoon, who possesses both professional knowledge and extensive experience from working in both the local art field and administration, will lead the Gwangju Museum of Art into a new era of development.

Director Yoon stated, "Through networks with the National Asia Culture Center and national and public art museums both domestically and internationally, I will present a variety of exhibition plans to expand the base of local art," adding, "I will create an 'open museum together with citizens' by providing various cultural spaces and programs for visitors."

Mayor Kang Gijung said, "Gwangju is truly a city of culture and arts, with the Asia Culture Center and alternating annual events such as the Gwangju Biennale and Gwangju Design Biennale," adding, "I hope that by joining forces with the local art community and expanding the base of the art population, the city art museum will be reborn as a beloved leading art museum in Korea."