Lee Jungseop and Park Soo-keun Works to Be Auctioned at K Auction in September: Starting Bids Set at 2.5 Billion and 1.3 Billion Won Each

Auction to Be Held at K Auction Headquarters in Sinsa-dong, Seoul on September 24
A Total of 126 Works, Including Pieces by Lee Jungseop and Park Soo-keun, to Be Featured

At the upcoming K Auction on September 24, works by Lee Jungseop and Park Soo-keun, two of the most prominent figures in Korean modern and contemporary art, will be auctioned side by side. The starting bids for Lee Jungseop's "Cow and Child" and Park Soo-keun's "Sans" are set at 2.5 billion won and 1.3 billion won, respectively. A total of 126 pieces, valued at approximately 15 billion won, will be featured in the auction.

Lee Jungseop 'Cow and Child'. Provided by K Auction

Lee Jungseop's masterpiece "Cow and Child" is highly symbolic, representing not only the rarity of his "Cow" series but also encapsulating the essence of his artistic vision. Since its first public unveiling at the Midopa Gallery solo exhibition in 1955, it has been a centerpiece at major exhibitions dedicated to Lee Jungseop, including the legendary posthumous exhibition at Hyundai Gallery in 1972, which revived his status as a national artist, and the large-scale retrospective "Jungseop, A Hundred-Year Myth" at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in 2016.

It is estimated that only about ten works from Lee Jungseop's dynamic "Cow" series still exist today. Because these pieces rarely appear in the auction market, this sale has drawn significant attention from private collectors, museums, and institutions. Some predict that the final bid could surpass the 4.8 billion won record set by another "Cow" piece in 2018.

'Sans' by Park Soo-keun. Provided by K Auction

Park Soo-keun's "Sans," a work that resonates deeply with viewers, will also be featured. This landscape painting is a quintessential example of Park's unique textures and the distinctly Korean sensibility he brought to his art. More than a simple depiction of scenery, it reflects the artist's warmth and respect for the spirit and struggles of people who endured hardship yet never lost hope during that era.

Numerous works by Kim Tschang-yeul, known as the "water drop artist," who is currently being re-examined through a major retrospective at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, will also be included. In addition, pieces by other major modern and contemporary artists such as Nam June Paik, Yun Hyong-keun, Park Seo-bo, Chang Ucchin, Lee Ufan, and Ha Chong-hyun, as well as internationally recognized artists like Kim Yoon-shin, Lee Bul, and Do Ho Suh, will be up for auction. The Korean traditional painting and antiques section will feature works by Cheongjeon Lee Sangbeom, Unbo Kim Ki-chang, Idang Kim Eun-ho, Naego Park Saeng-gwang, and Owon Jang Seung-eop, as well as calligraphy by Chusa Kim Jeong-hui and Baekbeom Kim Gu.

The preview, where visitors can view the auction items in person before the sale, will be held at the K Auction exhibition hall from September 13 until the day of the auction on September 24. The exhibition will be open every day during the preview period, and admission is free without reservation. Those wishing to participate in the auction can do so by registering as a K Auction member and bidding in writing, on-site, by phone, or via online live bidding. On the day of the auction, September 24, anyone can attend the auction as an observer, regardless of membership status.