Kukje Gallery, now 40, to open first overseas branch in Paris

Kukje Gallery announced Thursday that it will open its first overseas branch in Paris, France. It has been 40 years since the gallery opened in 1982 in Insa-dong, downtown Seoul.

While some Korean galleries have opened branch galleries in cities such as New York and Beijing, a major Korean gallery like Kukje to set up an exhibition space in Paris.

Kukje Gallery plans to open a location in Place Vendome, and actively introduce its artists and programs to local collectors, art experts and museums.

The first batch of artwork to be on display will feature domestic and international artists such as Lee Ufan, Ha Chong-hyun, Kwon Young-woo, Kim Yong-ik, Koo Bohn-chang, Robert Mapplethorpe, Jean-Michel Othoniel and Superflex.

Place Vendome, where the gallery will open the space, is a landmark in the center of Paris and near world-class art museums, such as The Louvre and The Centre Pompidou.

"We have been keeping an eye on Paris' unique artistic identity and its potential to be a base for expanding into the whole European market. Our latest expansion plan will serve as a good opportunity for us to promote the value of Korean art to European audiences," said Song Bo-young, vice president of Kukje Gallery.

Write to Bo-Ra Kim at destinybr@hankyung.com