Opening of Centre Pompidou Hanwha in Seoul

In the summer of 2023, under the auspices of the French Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Centre Pompidou signed a partnership agreement for the creation of a Centre Pompidou Hanwha in South Korea. This exhibition space of over 11,000 m², designed by the architecture firm Wilmotte & Associés, will be housed in the iconic 63 Building in Yeouido, Seoul’s financial district. The choice of Seoul as a partner city is no coincidence, as the Republic of Korea—and Seoul in particular—has seen its museum and cultural offerings grow and diversify significantly over the past decade. The exhibitions held there attract a large and diverse audience, both national and international, every year.

As part of this unique collaboration, and during the renovation of Centre Pompidou’s historic building in Paris, a series of eight monographic and thematic exhibitions—two per year over five years—will be presented, drawing from the modern collections of Centre Pompidou’s Musée national d’art moderne. 

A New Institution Dedicated to Modern and Contemporary Art in the Heart of Seoul

Each year, Centre Pompidou Hanwha will present two major exhibitions based on the Centre Pompidou collection. Spread over nearly 1,500 m² in a space entirely dedicated to Centre Pompidou, these exhibitions will focus on the artists and movements of the 20th century. At the same time, the museum will host a series of contemporary art exhibitions, highlighting Korean artists and connecting the major narratives of art history with the country’s cultural context. This programming will foster a dialogue between the great currents of art history and contemporary creation, and will offer cultural and educational activities for Korean audiences, complemented by an educational space where young visitors can explore and interact with works of art.

Designed as a museum resolutely turned toward the future, Centre Pompidou Hanwha builds on Centre Pompidou’s tradition of innovation and offers a renewed interpretation of its collection in light of the Korean cultural and artistic context. Each exhibition will be based on original research and curated jointly by Korean and French teams. 

The museum will thus provide visitors with a new approach to modern and contemporary art and contribute to the development of curatorial research and artistic exchanges between Korea and France. As a new cultural landmark in Seoul, Centre Pompidou Hanwha is also intended to become a place of encounter and sharing, open to both residents and tourists.