Lee Kang So Awarded the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit
On 7 November, 2025, pioneering experimental artist Lee Kang So was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit (Bogwan Medal) by the Government of the Republic of Korea in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement and globalization of Korean contemporary art.
As a leading figure in Korea’s experimental art movement, Lee spearheaded groundbreaking projects such as New System, A.G., and the Daegu Contemporary Art Festival, opening new horizons for contemporary art in the 1970s. Over the past three decades, he has laid the groundwork for regional experimental artists to engage on a national stage, while also representing Korean art internationally through his participation in the Paris Biennale, the Sydney Biennale, and the International Studio Program at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA PS1) in New York.
Through seminal works such as Extinction and Painting 78-1, as well as major solo exhibitions including When the Wind Blows over the Water at National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) and The Flow of the Curved Waterway: The Experiment Continues at Daegu Art Museum, Lee has profoundly shaped the identity and global presence of Korean art.
The Bogwan Medal stands as a distinguished tribute to his enduring artistic vision and his exceptional role in advancing the discourse of Korean contemporary art on the world stage.
