It was during this turbulent age that the gallery came to realize that its mission — and its duty — went beyond that of a mere commercial art gallery.

I feel confident that we have, in our own way, contributed to the progression of Korean art history. We have, of course, faltered at times, and there have likely been ways in which we fell short of expectations. That being said, the special relationship Gallery Hyundai has built with the Korean art world over the years is one so entirely singular, I have yet to see its likeness anywhere else, home or abroad. Moving forward, we pledge to put our whole heart and soul toward constantly improving and I am eager to throw our weight behind the shared process leading into the future. Remembering always the deep significance of this chance to play a part in our unfolding cultural history, we will push ourselves to lead in a way commensurate with the coming age.

Ever since I first took on the responsibility of running Gallery Hyundai, I have always held close these guiding words from our founder: “If there are no artists, there is no gallery.” Indeed, it is only due to the fact that artists who devote their lives to the act of creation exist that galleries, and the art market itself, can also exist. We will not lose sight of this undeniable truth. Gallery Hyundai, who has grown together having shared the ups and downs of the last fifty years with our artists, will continue to pour all our care and energy into supporting artists and shining a light on their achievements. We will work to expand the world’s understanding and appreciation of the originality and excellence of Korean art.

During this amazing period, as Korea as a whole achieved shining successes in economic development and democratization, Gallery Hyundai experienced firsthand the ascension of culture and the advancement of society. The gallery contributed to this development through a wide array of exhibitions presenting works both historical and new, completing important acquisitions and placements domestically and internationally, in the process.