A Study on the Self-Vitality Art Auction Market in South Korea

This study aims to re-examine the concept of “Self-Vitality (자생력)” in Korean contemporary art through the formation and development of the art auction market, thereby expanding existing discourses—previously centered on aesthetics and criticism—into economic and institutional perspectives. Since the 1970s, the Korean art scene has rapidly broadened its scope with the emergence of galleries, museums, and professional critics, as well as increased international exchanges. This expansion provided a foundation for recontextualizing the discourse on self-sustaining capacity, newly practiced through negotiations between tradition and modernity, and between foreign cultures and domestic identity. Notably, previous research has not sufficiently addressed the role that non-institutional auctions played in the early revitalization and popularization of the market. By analyzing the activities of these non-institutional auctions and the mutual influences of their institutionalization process, this study reveals that the Korean auction market is not simply an adoption of Western models but rather a “Self-Vitality” formed organically through complex cultural negotiations. Building on this analysis, the study clarifies the significance of the auction market as a central platform for the popularization of Korean contemporary art and for overseas exchanges, while proposing directions for fostering a sustainable structure and cultural and social self-vitality capacity in the Korean art market. Ultimately, it analyzes the sources of competitiveness that the Korean contemporary art field should pursue and explores concrete strategies for sustainable growth. It also highlights the importance of integrating diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches.