[BizHanKook] On November 5, the ‘Korea Art Supporting Project Association (KAUP) 2026 Exhibition’ kicked off on the 3rd floor of the Sun Art Center in Insa-dong, Seoul.
The KAUP exhibition is an event where artists who were discovered and introduced through Bizhankook’s ‘Korea Art Supporting Project’ voluntarily gather to showcase their works every year. Launched in 2016, the Korea Art Supporting Project has now spanned 10 years. It has introduced nearly 300 artists to date, and the twelfth season is currently underway.
The opening ceremony, held at 3 p.m. that day, was attended by KAUP Chairman Lee Young-soo, Ilyo Shinmun CEO (and Bizhankook publisher) Kim Won-yang, project curator and artist Jeon Jun-yeop, and the participating artists.
CEO Kim Won-yang, who opened the ceremony, remarked, "I heard that many talented artists participated in this exhibition, and from what I can see, there are truly many excellent works. I hope this exhibition serves as a stepping stone for all of you to advance into a new world," offering his support.
KAUP Chairman Lee Young-soo, who organized the exhibition, encouraged the artists by saying, "I am grateful to Bizhankook and Ilyo Shinmun for their unwavering support even during difficult economic times, and to the artists who participated in the exhibition. Even when such a great opportunity is created, only artists who are prepared can participate. Please continue to work hard and prepare yourself so that you can seize these good opportunities."
Artist Jeon Jun-yeop, the curator of the Korea Art Supporting Project, said, "It is delightful to see the artists I introduced in the past after such a long time. It is highly meaningful to have the early participants gather again," adding, "It is also truly grateful to see the artist association being managed so well."
The opening ceremony was also a time to reflect on the past 10 years. Many veteran artists graced the venue, including Oh Su-ji and Im So-hyung, who were introduced in Season 4 in 2018; Im Seung-hyun, who appeared in Season 5 in 2019; and Baek Seol-ah, who was introduced in Season 7 in 2022.
Artist Oh Su-ji stated, "I was introduced to the Korea Art Supporting Project when I had just started my career in my 20s. The experience of exhibiting and working back then helped me a lot. That is why I always feel grateful to Bizhankook and Ilyo Shinmun." She added, "Back then, I painted from the perspective of someone in their 20s, but now I paint from the perspective of someone in their 30s. I didn't realize so much time had passed, but when they called me after such a long time, I agreed to participate immediately," repeatedly expressing her gratitude.
Artist Im So-hyung also shared her thoughts, saying, "It is so good to see everyone again after such a long time. I didn't realize 10 years had passed, but here we are. The artists' work improves with each passing year. I can feel that everyone is putting in a lot of effort. The support from Bizhankook and KAUP is a huge help to the artists."
Artist Lee Mi-hee, the ‘youngest’ member who was introduced in Season 11 last year, showcased four new works at this exhibition. Her color palette has also evolved, featuring red tones that match the autumn season and blue tones that capture the bluish light of dawn. Lee Mi-hee expressed her determination to continue working hard, saying, "It was wonderful to meet many visitors and hear various interpretations of my work during the ‘2026 Korea Art Supporting Project Exhibition’ held this March. Since an artist works alone, those opportunities for communication serve as another source of inspiration for my work."
The KAUP 2026 exhibition will be held until the 10th and can be viewed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.