Building on 3.46 Million Visitors... MMCA, From Korea to the World

Do Ho Suh, Lee Daewon, Park Seokwon, and Bang Hyeja to Be Revisited
Major International Exhibitions Featuring Damien Hirst and Georgia O'Keeffe
New 'International Masters Exhibition' to Showcase Global Art Trends

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) recorded its highest-ever annual attendance in 2025, expanding the presence of Korean art both domestically and internationally. Building on this momentum, the museum plans to further strengthen its public role as a national art institution in 2026 by launching a new international masters exhibition, expanding its regional outreach, training specialized conservation personnel, and opening its digital archives to the public. Through a comprehensive mid- to long-term strategy encompassing research, exhibitions, education, and international cooperation, MMCA aims to document the current state of Korean art and broaden its connection with the global art scene.

Damien Hirst, "For the Love of God" (2007). Courtesy of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

On the morning of January 6, MMCA held a press conference at its Seoul branch in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to announce its exhibition plans and major business directions for 2026. Based on its achievements in 2025, the museum presented a vision to enhance international competitiveness while evolving into a cultural platform that spans regions and generations.

Record-High 3.46 Million Annual Visitors in 2025

In 2025, MMCA significantly expanded opportunities for the public to experience art through permanent and special exhibitions, as well as overseas shows. The permanent exhibition, which offered a 100-year overview of Korean art using only works from the museum’s collection, attracted a cumulative 680,000 visitors. The total annual number of visitors reached 3.46 million, setting a new all-time record.

The solo exhibition of Ron Mueck drew 530,000 visitors and became a major public sensation. Special exhibitions that re-examined modern and contemporary Korean art, along with shows addressing social themes, also garnered significant attention. Internationally, traveling and co-curated exhibitions held in the United States, Japan, China, and other locations helped raise the global profile of Korean art.

Yuko Mori, Corruption (2021). Courtesy of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

New 'International Masters Exhibition' to Launch in 2026

In 2026, MMCA will focus on international exhibitions and public initiatives. The newly established 'International Masters Exhibition' will spotlight globally influential artists, introducing major trends in contemporary art to Korean audiences. At the same time, 'MMCA Regional Partnership' will be launched to expand the museum’s outstanding content to regional areas.

Through the 'MMCA Conservation School,' the museum will systematically train young art conservation specialists, strengthening the foundation of conservation expertise. MMCA will also make its archive of 520,000 artworks available as an online image service, greatly enhancing research accessibility. In addition, the museum will fully launch an international curatorial research network program, centered on joint research with leading overseas art institutions.

Exhibitions Bridging International Contexts to Be Held in Korea in 2026

Lee Ufan, From Point (1976). Courtesy of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

In 2026, marking both the 40th anniversary of the Gwacheon branch and the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, MMCA will present exhibitions that connect the conceptual trends of Korean art with international contexts. Notable exhibitions include 'This Is (Not) Conceptual Art,' which highlights conceptual tendencies in Korean contemporary art; 'The Art of Reading: From Paper to Pixel,' which explores changes in visual culture and design; and 'Strangers in Paris,' which revisits Korean artists who moved to France after the war.

Solo exhibitions by Korean artists will include the largest-ever retrospective of Do Ho Suh, as well as retrospectives of Lee Daewon, Park Seokwon, and Bang Hyeja. 'Artist of the Year 2026' and 'MMCA x LG OLED Series 2026' will also be unveiled during the September art festival period.

International exhibitions will feature the first large-scale solo exhibition in Asia by Damien Hirst, 'Georgia O'Keeffe and American Modern Art,' and 'Road Movie: Korean and Japanese Art after 1945.' Additional exhibitions will explore the expansiveness of contemporary art, such as 'Poetics of Disappearance: On Perishable Art,' 'Gwacheon 40th Anniversary Project: Imaginations of Light,' and multidisciplinary art and film programs.