'K-Heritage Art Exhibition: Mibaek' Opens Now at The Gallery Lake in Songpa-gu!

The literary world of the late Lee Cheong-jun — whose novels "Seopyeonje" and "Your Paradise" left an indelible mark on Korean literary history — is being reborn as "K-art," a fusion of traditional and contemporary art.

Seoul's Songpa-gu, led by District Mayor Seo Gang-seok, will hold the "K-Heritage Art Exhibition: Mibaek" at The Gallery Lake on Seokchon Lake from June 9 through July 26.

The exhibition is the first traditional culture showcase presented since The Gallery Lake opened. Songpa-gu is organizing it in partnership with Savers Korea Co. and the Korea Heritage Cultural Foundation.

The show draws its inspiration from the works of novelist Lee Cheong-jun (1939–2008), who spent many years writing in Songpa-gu and built a lasting connection with the district. The exhibition title "Mibaek" — meaning "the light of dawn not yet fully broken" — was Lee's pen name. The show visualizes the artisanal spirit embedded in his literature through the beauty of traditional culture.

A total of 15 artists — leading figures in traditional Korean craft and contemporary art — will present more than 60 works that illuminate the beauty of tradition through a modern lens. From moon jars and Bangchae-ok (a depiction of King Jeongjo's royal procession to Hwaseong) to media art installations, the exhibition galleries are set to become a crossroads of art transcending time and space.

Particularly notable are works by masters carrying on the lineage of traditional arts — including national intangible heritage holders in lacquerwork, fan-making and court footwear, as well as practitioners of court embroidery, sutra transcription, ceramics and Korean painting. Among them, Hwang Hae-bong, the designated holder of National Intangible Heritage No. 116 in the art of traditional footwear (hwahye), has preserved and passed down the craft in Songpa, adding further resonance to the district's local culture and intangible heritage.

Beyond a conventional viewing experience, the exhibition also offers a range of companion programs. A dedicated "Author's Room" will introduce Lee Cheong-jun's personal belongings and novels, allowing visitors to experience both literary emotion and the aesthetics of traditional art. Professional docent-led tours, children's activity sheets and hands-on craft workshops for families will also be available.

The exhibition runs through July 26, with operating hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; the gallery is closed every Monday. On Wednesdays — designated "Culture Day" — the gallery stays open until 9 p.m.

District Mayor Seo Gang-seok said the exhibition offers "a meaningful reinterpretation of Lee Cheong-jun's literary world — so deeply tied to Songpa-gu — through traditional craft and contemporary art." He added that he hopes many residents will visit and "feel the depth and beauty of our traditional cultural arts as past and present come into dialogue, set against the scenery of Seokchon Lake."