'Minhwa,' Korean folk art, flourishes anew in Seoul

Visitors take a look at minhwa, or Korean folk paintings, at the Korea Minhwa Art Fair held at the Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

By Baek Byung-yeul

• Published Jun 19, 2025 4:12 PM KST

A vibrant showcase of minhwa, or traditional Korean folk painting, is drawing art lovers to Seoul this week. The seventh Korea Minhwa Art Fair, running through Sunday at the Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention (SETEC), sheds light on how this centuries-old art form continues to inspire creativity today.

First launched in 2017, the annual fair has grown significantly, with this year's installment featuring over 100 booths and attracting some 500 minhwa artists from across Korea and abroad.

On Thursday, the fair's opening day, the presence of middle-aged women was notably prominent among the visitors, a reflection of minhwa’s appeal among these Koreans.

"Minhwa is an art genre that feels familiar to Koreans," a middle-aged visitor said. "I came to this fair today with friends who are also learning minhwa together. We felt a strong desire to express our own originality through minhwa works like the artists here. There were so many wonderful pieces."

The fair highlights how minhwa, a unique genre that has long been cherished in Korea, continues to evolve while maintaining its distinctive charm. This traditional Korean folk painting, which flourished during the later centuries of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), stands apart from the refined traditions of court art.

Artists bring diverse perspectives to minhwa

This year's theme is "yeonhwahwasaeng," a Buddhist concept meaning the mysterious birth of all things. This concept resonates throughout the exhibition, highlighting the profound symbolism inherent in minhwa, even as artists bring their contemporary voices to the traditional form.

Among the artists showcasing their work, artist Lee Moon-hyung directly challenges conventional perceptions of minhwa.

"From the perspective of mainstream art, minhwa is often seen as a less creative art genre, based on old folk paintings," she said.

However, Lee takes a bold approach, creating works that pay tribute to Western masterpieces using minhwa techniques. These innovative pieces, often featuring her beloved cats, are on display at the fair, clearly showing how adaptable minhwa can be for modern artistic expression.

The fair extends beyond paintings, offering a variety of minhwa-inspired cultural products such as ceramics, textile crafts for daily use, related books and art supplies like brushes and hanji, or traditional Korean paper.

Hong Eun-mi, a minhwa artist for 12 years, showcased her pieces primarily centered on maehwa (plum blossoms), which use pigment and hanji.

"Minhwa artists express themselves through various subjects, and I chose plum blossoms, which bloom in April," Hong explained. "I wanted to show how my life and my paintings are blossoming beautifully, just like these pretty maehwa."

For Kim Ae-ryun, a painter and designer who transitioned to minhwa 10 years ago, this fair marks her first time participating. She emphasizes the inherent symbolism within minhwa, a characteristic that deeply resonates with Korean culture.

"Minhwa typically conveys meaning through the objects depicted in the paintings," Kim explained. "For example, a cat in a painting signifies warding off bad luck, a rooster represents success, a pair of birds symbolizes marital harmony and a pine tree means longevity."

Through her works, Kim added, she aims to convey the enduring beauty and meaningful narratives embedded in minhwa.