[Future of Seochon]④ “Could It Become Korea’s Champs-?lys?es?” - Gong Geunhye, Gallery Director

CEO Gong Geunhye Who Opened the Way for Photo Exhibitions in Korea
Must Change Without Losing Seochon’s Unique Character
Expecting Transformation into 'Korea's Champs-?lys?es Street'

Exterior view of Gong Geunhye Gallery located on Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Photo by Gong Geunhye)

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Seohee] Gong Geunhye, CEO, has been running the ‘Gong Geunhye Gallery’ since 2005. Her 'exhibition life' spanning over 15 years came about by chance. After graduating from university, during an internship program in France, she visited ‘Yvon Lambert,’ the largest gallery in Paris, and was captivated by a photograph she encountered in the gallery’s storage, which led her to plan her future.

Seeing a work so vivid it was hard to believe it was a photograph, CEO Gong said, "It felt as if light was radiating from the artwork." This is the story of the ‘Room of Love’ series by Bernard Faucon, an artist who still maintains a connection with CEO Gong. At a time when photographic works were virtually unrecognized in Korea, CEO Gong resolved to ‘definitely introduce this artist to Korea’ and returned home.

Thus, in 2005, Gong Geunhye Gallery opened as a photography-specialized gallery in Nonhyeon-dong. In 2006, it moved to Palpan-dong at the entrance of Samcheong-dong, and in 2010, it relocated to Samcheong-dong, expanding its scope to various contemporary arts including painting, sculpture, video, and installation. Currently, it holds exclusive contracts with world-renowned artists such as Michael Kenna, Erwin Olaf, and Fenti Samalati, introducing diverse works to Korea.

On the afternoon of the 12th, the third day after the Blue House (Cheongwadae) was opened to the public, I met CEO Gong on the second floor of Gong Geunhye Gallery. Wearing a blue scarf with her medium-length hair, CEO Gong appeared somewhat flushed, perhaps due to the suddenly increased crowds. I asked CEO Gong, who has operated the gallery in Samcheong-dong for over 10 years, about the changes in Seochon after the Blue House opening and her expectations for Seochon’s future.

---You have operated the gallery here for over 10 years since 2010. What kind of neighborhood is Seochon to you?

▶Seochon is a neighborhood with as many inconveniences as it is beautiful. Security was extremely strict. In the early 2000s, police checkpoints were so severe that buses couldn’t run freely. Taxi drivers would ask, “Can you go in there?” The first time bus number 8 started running in this area was probably after the Roh Moo-hyun administration. Regulations eased once more during the Moon Jae-in administration, but many inconveniences remain. Every time the president passes by, communications are cut off for security reasons, making cellphone use inconvenient. Now that the Blue House has moved to Yongsan, I think Yongsan residents will probably experience similar inconveniences.

---Despite that, why have you continued to operate the gallery here?

▶Although there were many regulations because it was next to the Blue House, it wasn’t a major negative factor for me personally. Visitors to exhibitions often prefer quiet spaces. I also liked the tranquil and comfortable atmosphere unique to Seochon. The residents here are similar. Due to the nature of the area, if a protest occurs, the entire neighborhood gets paralyzed. During the candlelight protests under the Lee Myung-bak administration and the impeachment protests under the Park Geun-hye administration, some residents couldn’t enter their homes and stayed at nearby hotels. Yet, despite this, many have lived here for decades without moving elsewhere, which I think shows how much they appreciate the comfort of this place.

On the 10th, the front view of Gong Geun-hye Gallery on the first day of the Blue House opening (Photo by Gong Geun-hye)

---President Yoon Suk-yeol opened the Blue House to the public immediately after taking office. How did you feel on the first day of the opening?

▶The expression ‘my mind went blank’ fits perfectly. In over 10 years of running the gallery here, I had never seen such a large crowd. Later I found out that our gallery is located on the mandatory path visitors must pass to tour the Blue House. The exit after the tour is Chunchu Gate, and our gallery is right next to it. After visiting the Blue House, some people walk along the main street of Samcheong-dong to the Bukaksan hiking trail opposite the Financial Training Institute, even going hiking. Before the Blue House opened, the caf? right in front of the gallery wasn’t nearly as crowded. It was mostly Blue House staff or reporters stopping by briefly for lunch. But now, the terrace is so packed that there are no seats left. That caf? used to open around 11 a.m. and close at 5 p.m., but now it has extended its hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

---As a gallery director, can we understand that the Blue House opening is positive?

▶There are pros and cons. Museums like the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art charge admission fees, so increased foot traffic directly translates into revenue, helping operations. But galleries earn money by selling artworks, not by admission fees. Just because more people gather nearby doesn’t necessarily mean increased profits. Moreover, the Samcheong-dong and Sagan-dong areas mainly exhibit high-priced works targeting a niche audience rather than the general public. So the target audience is limited from the start. I’m currently considering whether to change the exhibition plan.

---What do you mean by changing the exhibition plan? Could you explain specifically?

▶It means lowering the barrier to the artworks. Since the Blue House opened, a diverse audience of all ages has been visiting the gallery. But we can’t exhibit works only for a small group as before. The special exhibition by artist Tae Kim, held to commemorate the Blue House opening, is one attempt to lower the barrier to the artworks. We selected works that anyone can come and view without burden. Also, Michael Kenna’s exhibition, which was originally held only in winter, has been moved up to the end of June this year to celebrate the Blue House opening. The photos chosen are familiar to the general public, including those of the Palace of Versailles and Ukraine.

The appearance of citizens visiting the cafe in front of Gong Geun-hye Gallery around 3 p.m. on the 12th

---Since the Blue House opening, many regulations have been eased, raising expectations for Seochon’s development. What are your thoughts on deregulation?

▶It might be good for building owners, but personally, I hope indiscriminate deregulation doesn’t happen. This area has its own unique characteristics. For example, only hanok (traditional Korean houses) can be built, or buildings cannot exceed 8 meters in height. I believe these strict regulations have helped preserve Seochon’s character for a long time. Among the artists exhibiting at our gallery is Michael Kenna, who travels the world photographing landscapes and major cities in places like France and Japan. He was surprised when he came to Seoul, saying the natural environment was too damaged. Even if development happens, it should be done in harmony with the natural environment and within reasonable limits. But Seoul seems to have crossed that line, which is regrettable.

---What does developing while maintaining reasonable limits mean?

▶When the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris, many criticized it as an eyesore. But Paris regulated the old city center to preserve five-story buildings, and managed the Eiffel Tower to harmonize with Paris’s environment, making it a top tourist attraction. I hope Seochon can move in that direction. Even if buildings are constructed, they should be designed to harmonize with the surrounding natural landscape without damaging it.

---How do you think Seochon will change in the future? What kind of future do you expect for Seochon?

▶I think Seochon might become like the ‘Champs-?lys?es of Korea.’ Every tourist who goes to Paris visits the Champs-?lys?es. After COVID-19 ends and more people travel to Korea from abroad, this place, having been the president’s residence, will become famous and one of the representative tourist destinations. I also look forward to seeing how Seochon will change. Sometimes I meet people who have lived in Seoul for decades but have never visited this neighborhood. It’s really surprising. To those people, I say, “This, Seochon, is the real Seoul.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.