Disabled Artists' Art Market 'Ieum Art Port' Opens at Modu Art Space

Exhibition of 100 Works by Disabled Artists
to Be Held from May 19 to 24

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Disability Arts and Culture Center, will host the disabled artists' art market 'Ieum Art Port 2025' from May 19 to 24 at the Modu Art Space (5th floor, Seoul Square Annex).

Ieum Art Port is an event designed to promote the 'Priority Purchase System for Works by Disabled Artists,' which has been implemented since March 2023, and to support disabled artists in entering the cultural and arts distribution market. The 'Priority Purchase System for Works by Disabled Artists' is a system mandated under Article 9-2 of the Act on Support for Cultural and Artistic Activities of Persons with Disabilities, requiring the state, local governments, and public institutions to 'prioritize the purchase' of creative works produced by disabled artists in order to promote their creative activities and market entry. At this art market, 100 artworks by 50 disabled artists will be exhibited, and tailored information on the works will be provided to priority purchasing institutions to facilitate the purchase of these creative works.

During the event, a promotional booth will be operated to introduce various government support programs for disabled artists. Information will be provided on systems that can practically assist disabled artists in their creative activities, including the 'Priority Purchase System for Works by Disabled Artists,' the 'Ieum Art Platform' (an online space supporting the distribution of works by disabled artists), the 'Art Activity Certification System,' and copyright registration, mediation, and legal consultation (by the Korea Copyright Commission), as well as guidance on how to utilize these programs.

In the seminar room at Modu Art Space, essential lectures for disabled artists will be held daily during the event, including 'Copyright Stories for Artists,' 'Living Life in New Ways,' and 'How to Write a Living Artist's Note.' On May 19, the Korea Disability Arts and Culture Center and the Korea Copyright Commission are also scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on copyright education, consultation, and promotion in order to protect the copyrights of works created by disabled artists.

An official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated, "Since last year, the Ministry has been supporting the expansion of market access for disabled artists both online and offline, including the establishment of the 'Ieum Art Platform,' to raise awareness of and ensure the successful implementation of the 'Priority Purchase System for Works by Disabled Artists.' We will continue to do our utmost to ensure the stable settlement of this system in the future."