Centre Pompidou, Paris, France. Courtesy of Hanhwa and Centre Pompidou.
France’s renowned contemporary art institution, Centre Pompidou, has confirmed its plan to open a Seoul branch in October 2025. The Centre Pompidou is one of the largest art museums in France, alongside the Louvre and the Orsay. It houses the works of eminent artists representing 20th and 21st-century art history, including giants like Kandinsky, Chagall, Matisse, and Picasso.
The museum will be inaugurated through the renovation of an annex building of the 63 Building, owned by Hanwha, a prominent business conglomerate in South Korea. Hanwha has signed a contract to oversee the operation of the “Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul” for a span of four years. The Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul plans to hold exhibitions twice a year, showcasing representative works of global masters that have not been previously displayed in Korea.
Beyond exhibitions, collaborative efforts with the Pompidou will also bring forth diverse cultural programs. Shin Hyun-woo, the CEO of the Hanwha Foundation of Culture, stated, “The establishment of the Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul is a symbol of cultural collaboration between Korea and France. We will strive to make it a successful endeavor.”
