K-pop pioneer Kim Wan-sun finds solace in art

Singer and painter Kim Wan-sun poses in front of her painting at Gallery Marie in Seoul. Her joint exhibition "Art Beyond Fame" runs through Nov. 13. Courtesy of KWSunflower

In 1986, at the age of 17, Kim Wan-sun debuted with her first album “Tonight,” captivating audiences with her sensual dance moves and bold, provocative images.

Over the next five years, she dominated Korea's pop music scene, becoming the first female singer to reach such heights in the industry. Between 1987 and 1991, she was named Singer of the Year annually, earning the nickname “Korea’s Madonna.”

Beyond Korea, Kim’s music and performances attracted fans in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. She found particular success in Taiwan, where her albums sold more than 500,000 copies — making her one of the early forerunners of K-pop.

Nearly 40 years after the height of her fame, Kim has returned — not to the stage, but to the canvas. She is currently presenting a joint exhibition titled “Art Beyond Fame,” with rock musician and former Sanullim member Kim Chang-hoon, at Gallery Marie in Seoul’s Jongno District, featuring nine self-portraits.

Except for one full-body portrait displayed in the gallery's entrance, most of her paintings depict herself from the side or back, often in tears.

“I made these drawings while thinking about my relationship with myself — wanting to find myself again after losing who I was,” Kim told The Korea Times in an interview, Friday. “That’s why they’ve turned out a little darker.”

Kim Wan-sun's self-portraits are on display at her duo exhibition "Art Beyond Fame" with Kim Chang-hoon at Gallery Marie in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong

Although this is not her first exhibition, she feels more attached to it because it centers on her own works.

For Kim, painting has become a process of rediscovery.

“Since I started as a singer so young, I feel like I lost my sense of self. I didn’t even realize it until much later. Painting helps me reclaim that lost identity,” she said.

That introspection explains her focus on self-portraiture. “It’s my struggle to find myself. When I look at old photos for inspiration, they trigger emotions that comfort me,” she said.

Behind her fame on the stage, Kim’s life was marked by struggles — both within the demanding world of singing and dancing and in her fraught relationship with her manager, who was also her aunt.

Her aunt, Han Baek-hee, a talent manager, recognized Kim’s potential and brought her into the entertainment world despite objections from Kim’s parents. Before her debut, Kim underwent three years of rigorous training in dance and vocals. She later confessed that her aunt’s strict management — which included isolating her from family and friends and enforcing harsh dietary restrictions — made their relationship extremely difficult.

Looking back now, Kim says she feels gratitude more than resentment toward her aunt.

“She had a vision for me. Expanding my career overseas was her idea. Everything was possible because of her,” Kim said.

Kim Wan-sun performs on the stage. Captured from KBS KPOP Classic's YouTube account

Under her aunt’s rigid management, Kim had little opportunity to explore her artistic interests — a passion she finally pursued in her mid-30s.

“I was in Hawaii in 2008 and took a painting course. I was happy — and surprised by how deeply I could focus. That realization kept me going,” she recalled.

The COVID-19 pandemic became one of her most productive periods, allowing her to build a significant body of work.

Decades after her heyday, Kim continues to make music, though her activities are now more selective.

In 2023, Kim teamed up with singer and JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young for his single "Changed Man" and earlier this year, she released a duet "Lucky" with Seulgi of Red Velvet. She also appeared on the variety show "Dancing Queens on the Road," which followed five iconic female artists — including Uhm Jung-hwa, Lee Hyo-ri, BoA and Hwasa — as they formed a group and embarked on a nationwide concert tour across Korea.

Now in her 50s, Kim keeps her music career low-key while devoting more time to her passion for painting.

“Unlike music, which requires a team, painting is something I do entirely on my own — and that’s fascinating,” she said. “It’s just for me. I have no desire to make money from it.”

The exhibition runs through Nov. 13. On Saturday, Kim is scheduled to give a talk at the gallery. For more information, visit @gallerymarie_ on Instagram.