Pocheon Painter Kwon Yong-seop Honored for Art with a Social Mission

Painter Kwon Yong-seop, who lives in Pocheon, a city in Gyeonggi Province north of Seoul, has received two notable commendations in quick succession. He was honored by the Governor of Gyeonggi Province on October 17, followed by the Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council on October 22.

The awards recognize his work in presenting Korean culture and beauty to the world and turning the nature and history of Pocheon into art.

A Brush That Crosses Borders and Communities

The Gyeonggi governor's commendation praised his exhibitions at home and abroad, which raised the profile of the province's arts scene, and his efforts to highlight local history and culture through subjects such as Sanjeong Lake and the Pocheon grave of the painter Sojeong Byeon Gwan-sik.

The Seoul council chairperson's commendation reflects his long effort to join environment and art. He took part in campaigns to revive Seoul's Cheonggyecheon stream and the Los Angeles River, and his paintings of Cheonggyecheon have promoted urban renewal and the value of culture.

For 25 years he has also worked overseas. Together with his wife, the painter Yeo Yeong-nan, he has painted the beauty of the Korean Peninsula, from its islands to Mount Kumgang, introducing Korea's landscape, history and sentiment abroad. His Dokdo-themed art diplomacy stands out, with exhibitions and performances held at Japanese schools and consulates overseas. His activities have ranged from the White House cultural plaza to Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, carrying a message of peace beyond borders and ideologies.

At home, he runs the urban ink-sketch group Dohwaseo, which depicts local landmarks such as Dovecote Cave and Bridge 38, and leads the 'Following Gyeomjae' project at Hwajeokyeon, reviving the true-view landscape tradition of the painter Jeong Seon with his wife. He also teaches art at Unboweon, an educational institution for people with hearing impairments in Naechon-myeon, helping them express themselves through art.

Kwon said that a painter's mission is to find beauty even in one corner of the village where he lives and to make neighbors' lives more beautiful.

Why It Matters

Kwon's career shows how art can connect history, environment and community, and how a local artist can carry a regional story onto the world stage. His work with neighbors and people with disabilities suggests that painting can be a bridge between people.

Read the original article in Korean: K trendy NEWS