König Seoul: Berlin Contemporary Art Gallery in Itaewon’s Basement Level 1
König Seoul is the Seoul branch of Germany’s König Galerie, founded in 2002, and has been operating from a new space in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, since 2024. Before setting out, check the current address, the advance reservation requirement, the free admission information, and the limitations of the transportation details.
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A Gallery That Began in Berlin in 2002 and Came to Seoul in 2021
Koenig Seoul is one of the international branches of the German Koenig Galerie, established in 2002. Koenig Galerie is a contemporary art gallery that introduces emerging artists alongside internationally established artists, with a particular focus on the younger generation.
The Seoul branch opened in April 2021. Initially, based on a long-term collaboration with fashion brand MCM, it moved into MCM Haus in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, using the fifth floor and rooftop space at the time.
Why It Moved from MCM Haus in Cheongdam-dong to Sowol-ro 38-gil in Itaewon
Koenig Seoul’s opening exhibition was organized to present approximately 40 works, including paintings, sculptures, and drawings, by around 20 representative artists. Erwin Wurm, Camille Henrot, Chiharu Shiota, Helen Marten, Katharina Grosse, and Koni Mayer were among the artists introduced at the time.
The current official location information points to a new space in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The first exhibition held at the new venue was 《INNER SPACES》, which presented more than 50 works by 25 artists from September 3 to October 12, 2024. The exhibition opening took place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on September 2, 2024.
Why Contemporary Art Exhibitions Do Not Remain Limited to Sculpture Alone
The media you can expect at Koenig Seoul are not limited to sculpture. The gallery’s official introduction lists sculpture, painting, video, installation, printmaking, photography, and performance as part of its program. Therefore, it is more accurate to understand it as a commercial gallery where the media and formats change with each exhibition, rather than as an interactive space where visitors directly touch the artworks.
The gallery has stated that its goal is to introduce and educate visitors about various art movements. The 2022 exhibition 《MEASURE BY MEASURE》 included works by On Kawara, Alicja Kwade, and Peter Dreher, and ran from November 11, 2022, to January 20, 2023.
From 12 Wooden Reliefs to 12 Asian Women Artists
An example of a solo exhibition is Stephan Balkenhol’s Seoul exhibition. It was held from December 16, 2023, to February 24, 2024, and presented 12 works as his first solo exhibition in Korea. Most of the works were wall-mounted reliefs made of wood.
《TRACES AND THREADS》, held from June 28 to July 27, 2024, brought together around 40 works by 12 Asian women artists. Reiko Ikemura’s 《SOUL SCAPE SEOUL》 was her first solo exhibition in Korea, held from September 2 to November 18, 2023, and included five sculptures made using materials such as bronze and cast glass.
Address and Reservation Method for the New Itaewon Space
The current address is B1, 30-34 Sowol-ro 38-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, postal code 04342. The phone number shown on the official location page is +82 2 3442 6968, and the email address is [email protected].
Rather than having fixed general visiting hours, the gallery operates by advance reservation, described as “OPENING HOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.” Visitors should check the reservation method on the official location page at https://www.koeniggalerie.com/pages/location-seoul or contact +82 2 3442 6968. Travelers who are not familiar with Korean can also use the email address.
Admission Is Described as Free, but Current Conditions Should Be Checked Along with Reservations
Koenig Seoul stated in its official online magazine that it does not charge an admission fee. Although the notice indicated that admission was free, visitors should confirm whether this remains the case before visiting. However, this free-admission notice dates from January 2023, while the current location page indicates advance reservations, so free admission and the need for a reservation should be understood as separate conditions.
Closing days, regular operating hours, the current exhibition title, and exhibition dates were not available in the official location information. There is also no published information about the permitted extent of photography, whether photography is prohibited, whether audio guides and English information are available, or whether payment is cash-only. Therefore, it is best to plan the visit as a reservation-based exhibition visit and follow staff instructions after arriving at the basement-level space.
An Itaewon Visit Route Without Published Subway Station or Bus Numbers
The Korea Tourism Organization’s official Accessible Tourism page provides map-based directions to Koenig Seoul. However, the page text does not separately list the subway station name, exit number, bus routes, or walking time from the station to the gallery. Travelers visiting Korea for the first time should enter the address into a map app and check the route from their starting point to the entrance, rather than planning their journey around a specific station or bus number.
There is also no published information about parking availability, parking fees, or the recommended visiting time. Accessibility for wheelchairs and strollers has likewise not been confirmed; the official address only indicates that the gallery is on basement level 1. Visitors using mobility aids should ask about stair and elevator access when making their reservation.
If You Expect a Rooftop Sculpture Garden, Distinguish the Cheongdam-dong Information from the Current Venue
Koenig Seoul’s official online magazine introduced the former space as a location above MCM Korea’s flagship store and mentioned a rooftop sculpture garden. It also presented views from a rooftop in the Sinsa area overlooking the residential and commercial architecture of Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu.
This information concerns the Cheongdam-dong period in January 2023. The current official address is B1, 30-34 Sowol-ro 38-gil, Yongsan-gu, and 《INNER SPACES》 opened as the first exhibition at the new Itaewon venue in September 2024. Therefore, visitors should not assume that they will be able to see a rooftop sculpture garden or views of Gangnam during their current visit.
Information to Prepare Before Visiting and When This Gallery May Not Be Suitable
Koenig Seoul’s advance-reservation system may be inconvenient for travelers looking for a conventional art museum that can be entered without a reservation. On the other hand, if you want to see contemporary art by international artists in a small gallery space, it is suitable to check the exhibition title and dates first and then make a reservation. Past exhibitions include David Zink Yi’s first solo exhibition in Korea, 《PLAYING UNTIL FAILURE》 (May 21–June 17, 2023), and Matthias Weischer’s 《MIRRORS AND THINGS》 (September 1–October 23, 2022).
The key information to prepare before departure is the address, reservation status, phone number, and current exhibition. The official location page is https://www.koeniggalerie.com/pages/location-seoul, and the phone number is +82 2 3442 6968. The official online magazine describes admission as free, but whether this currently applies, as well as parking, closing days, accessibility, and photography rules, has not been published separately. It is therefore safer to visit after the reservation is confirmed rather than treating the gallery as a fixed stop on an Itaewon itinerary.
Before You Go
- Address
- B1, 30-34 Sowol-ro 38-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, postal code 04342
- Hours
- Advance reservations required (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY)
- Admission
- The official online magazine introduces it as free of charge. Confirm before visiting whether admission is still free.
- Phone
- +82 2 3442 6968
- Official site
- https://www.koeniggalerie.com/pages/location-seoul
- Transport
- Map-based directions are available on the Korea Tourism Organization’s official Accessible Tourism page. The page text does not separately list the subway station name, exit number, bus routes, or walking time.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 3
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Leeum Museum of ArtAn art museum showcasing Korean traditional and contemporary art exhibitions -
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National Museum of KoreaA museum where you can view historical artifacts from Korea and a variety of special exhibitions
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