A view of Define: Seoul 2023 in eastern Seoul's Seongsu-dong / Courtesy of Art Busan By Park Han-sol Define: Seoul, a boutique fair marrying fine art with design to cater to the rising wave of young collectors, is set to return this fall with an expanded sophomore edition. Launched by Art Busan, the event will bring 40 domestic and global art galleries, studios and design brands — a 50 percent increase from last year — to eastern Seoul’s trendy Seongsu-dong from Oct. 30 to Nov.
3. The roster includes local players such as Wooson Gallery and luxury handicraft brand Cheyul, alongside international names like German dealer Galerie Zink, Bangkok-based Yoomoota and Italian-British design duo Giopato & Coombes. The goal is to continue uniting art and design without boundaries — spanning paintings, sculptures, crafts, furniture, collectibles and interior decor — into one cohesive event, according to Jeong Seok-ho, managing director of Art Busan.
Italian-British design duo Giopato & Coombes' hand-blown light sculptures "Maehwa: Into the Bloom" / Courtesy of Giopato & Coombes, Art Busan Like its debut iteration, this year’s Define: Seoul is helmed by artistic director Teo Yang, an interior designer and founder of Teoyang Studio. With the theme of “The Meaning of Simplicity: Attitude Towards Life in a Rational Era,” the five-day fair will be anchored around two venues — S-Factory and Y173 — set amid a lively backdrop of fashionable pop-up stores and cafes frequented.