Hyundai Hwarang is pleased to present the exhibition Pioneers of Korean Abstract Art: Kim Whanki, Yoo Youngkuk, Rhee Seundja, where the pioneering works of Kim Whanki, Yoo Youngkuk, and Rhee Seundja, three forefront figures of Korean abstract art, will be showcased together. This exhibition brings together a selection of 26 major works that encapsulate the artistic prowess of these three artists. It will feature Kim Whanki's pieces from the 1960s to 1970s, created during his time in New York, Yoo Youngkuk's works from the 1970s to 1990s, characterized by vibrant colors and sculptural experimentation, and Rhee Seundja's "Woman and Earth" series and "City" series from the 1960s to 1970s.

Since its establishment in 1970, Hyundai Hwarang has been actively presenting exhibitions of Korean modern and contemporary art. Particularly in promoting abstract art to the public, the gallery invited Rhee Seundja, who was actively showing her works in France in 1974, to present a solo exhibition, followed by Yoo Youngkuk's first solo exhibition in 1975. In 1977, a retrospective exhibition shedding light on Kim Whanki's artistic world was also organized, showcasing his works from his humble beginnings in 1974.

Kim Whanki, Yoo Youngkuk, and Rhee Seundja, the leading figures of contemporary Korean art, have been associated with Hyundai Hwarang for over 50 years. Thus, the exhibition Pioneers of Korean Abstract Art: Kim Whanki, Yoo Youngkuk, Rhee Seundja shares significant meaning as it allows for a retrospective of the works of these three artists who stand at the origins of Korean abstract painting.