Master of Korean Painting Seokchang Hong Passes Away at 84

Seokchang Hong, a master of Korean painting and a member of the National Academy of Arts, Republic of Korea, passed away on June 9. He was 84 years old.

The National Academy of Arts announced that Hong died of old age at around 12:30 a.m. on this day.

Born in 1941 in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, Hong dedicated his life to Korean painting and other forms of East Asian painting, establishing his own unique artistic domain. He graduated from the Department of Oriental Painting at Hongik University College of Fine Arts, and studied East Asian art and aesthetics at the Graduate School of Arts at Chinese Culture University in Taiwan. He returned to Korea in 1973 and continued his artistic career.

Seokchang Hong, Artist
[Photo provided by National Academy of Arts, Republic of Korea]

Since his first solo exhibition in 1965, he held 30 solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions in countries including Korea, China, the United States, Japan, and Germany.

He received the Special Prize at the Cannes International Painting Festival in France (1994), the Republic of Korea Culture and Arts Award (2004), the Order of Cultural Merit (Bogwan) of Korea (2011), and the 66th Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Culture Award in the Exhibition Arts category (2024). In recognition of his contributions to the development of the arts, he became a member of the National Academy of Arts last year.

In addition to his artistic work, Hong was also devoted to nurturing the next generation. Beginning in 1980, he served as a professor at Hongik University, holding positions such as Dean of the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Director of the Museum, and Director of the Art and Design Education Institute.

After retiring from his professorship, he dedicated himself to creative work at the Yeongwol-gun Art Creation Studio in his hometown.

The funeral hall has been set up at Yonsei University Severance Hospital Funeral Hall. The funeral procession will take place at 6:20 a.m. on June 11.