Ha Jung-Woong Museum Gwangju: Is the 2026 Collection Exhibition Worth It?

Looking for an enriching escape in the city? I recently visited the Gwangju Museum of Art (광주시립미술관) Ha Jung-Woong Museum (하정웅미술관), nestled on Sangmu-daero (상무대로) in Gwangju's Seo-gu (서구) district. It's a fantastic spot to immerse yourself in art and enjoy a cultural autumn outing.

Currently, this museum is hosting a truly special exhibition, the '2026 Ha Jung-Woong Collection Exhibition 1993-2018,' which illuminates a remarkable history of personal philanthropy and artistic solidarity.

From masterpieces by global luminaries to the essence of modern and contemporary Korean art, I'm excited to share my experience of seeing it all in one place.

Exhibition Overview & Visitor Information

2026 Ha Jung-Woong Collection Exhibition 1993-2018

Exhibition Period: March 10, 2026 (Tuesday) – November 25, 2026 (Wednesday)

Venue: Gwangju Museum of Art Ha Jung-Woong Museum, Exhibition Halls 4, 5, 6

Address: 1165 Sangmu-daero, Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Inquiries: 062-613-5390

The title, 'Ha Jung-Woong Collection 1993-2018,' symbolizes a remarkable 25-year journey of sustained cultural patronage. It spans from 1993, when Mr. Ha Jung-Woong, a Zainichi (ethnic Korean resident in Japan) businessman and cultural benefactor, made his first donation to the Gwangju Museum of Art, until his eighth donation in 2018.

With a staggering 2,603 artworks donated over eight separate occasions, the scale and significance of his contributions are truly extraordinary!

Exhibition Hall Highlights

The exhibition is divided into three distinct halls (Exhibition Halls 4, 5, and 6), each featuring a unique theme.

Exhibition Hall 4 | Donation, Witness to an Era

This section explores the origins and core philosophy behind the Ha Jung-Woong Collection. It tells the story of his support for Zainichi Korean artists, driven by his desire for them to realize their artistic dreams, which he himself had to forgo as a second-generation Zainichi.

Key works include Jeon Hwa-hwang's (전화황) 'Maitreya Bodhisattva' (미륵보살) (1976), Jo Yang-gyu's (조양규) 'Warehouse No. 31' (31번 창고) (1955), Moon Seung-geun's (문승근) 'Blood Hole' (혈자구) (1974), alongside donation archive materials.

Exhibition Hall 5 | World Engraved in Print

This was personally the most visually captivating section! Centered around the second donation in 1999, it features a vast collection of print works by international masters who defined 20th-century modern art. Seeing familiar artists up close, you truly appreciate the diverse visual effects that the print medium offers.

Highlights include Andy Warhol's 'Mao' (모택동) (1972), Yayoi Kusama's 'Yellow Pumpkin' (황색호박) (1994), Salvador Dalí's 'Days of Early Spring' (초봄의 나날들) (1924), Marc Chagall's 'Memories of Paris' (파리의 기억) (1928), and Jim Dine's 'Red Darkness' (붉은 어두움) (1993), among others.

Exhibition Hall 6 | Time for Contemplation

The final section, Exhibition Hall 6, is dedicated to the masterpieces of Korean abstract art, featuring artists who built unique sculptural worlds centered on lines and surfaces. Collected and donated starting with Mr. Ha's connection to artist Lee Ufan (이우환) in the 1980s, these works invite you to experience accumulated repetition, silence, and deep contemplation on canvas.

Notable works include Lee Ufan's (이우환) 'Dialogue' (2012), Park Seo-bo's (박서보) 'Ecriture No. 900725' (묘법 No.900725) (1990), Yoo Young-kuk's (유영국) 'Purple Mountain' (보라산) (1980), and Yoon Myeung-ro's (윤명로) 'Juggling' (얼레짓) (1985), among others.

If you venture into the garden in front of the museum, you might encounter a charming 'dog-cat' – a friendly feline that follows you around just like a puppy! Be sure to say hello if you see them.

Mellowtrip's Verdict

This exhibition is far more than just a collection of famous paintings; it's a profound experience that deeply resonates with one individual's philosophy, the pain of an era, and the solidarity forged through art. It left a lasting impression.

Featuring familiar masters like Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, and Marc Chagall, it's an excellent place to cultivate artistic sensibility with children, and it makes for an ideal, serene indoor date spot.

The exhibition runs until November 25, 2026, so it's nearing its end! If you haven't had a chance to visit yet, I highly recommend stopping by before it's too late.