The Ocean and Mountains Continue, Yet Human Paths Remain Divided — 《The Nearest Peace》

26 Artists Reimagine the DMZ as a Space of Possibility and Peace

We often talk about peace as something distant.

But perhaps peace is something we need most at the very places where boundaries exist.

And sometimes, those boundaries are much closer than we think.

In Goseong, Gangwon Province, where South and North Korea face each other across the East Sea and Mount Geumgang, 26 leading contemporary Korean artists have gathered to ask a timeless question:

What does peace mean today?

《The Nearest Peace》

Presented as a special exhibition at Goseong Museum of Art, The Nearest Peace runs from June 9 to August 9, 2026, at Goseong Museum of Art near Geojin Port.

The exhibition approaches the DMZ not simply as a military border, but as a place where new conversations about peace, culture, and imagination can begin.

As art critic Kim Jonggil writes in the exhibition statement:

“The DMZ is a place where the taboos, silence, and unconscious memories of the Cold War era remain concentrated. Yet art has always crossed these forbidden boundaries first. Peace does not arrive through declarations alone. It begins through the imagination of seeing one another.”

Exhibition Information

Exhibition Period: June 9 (Tue) – August 9 (Sun), 2026

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed every Monday)

Opening Ceremony: June 9 (Tue), 2026 at 5:00 PM

Location: Goseong Museum of Art, Geojin Port, Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province, South Korea

Participating Artists: Kim Byungjoo, Kim Sungbok, Kim Jaenam, Kim Jooho, Kim Hwasoon, Kim Hyungki, Li Kang, Sun Mu, Moon Kijeon, Park Geonjae, Park Younggyun, Park Jaecheol, Seo Sungbong, Sung Taehoon, Song Phil, Eom So, Yoo Youngho, Lee Kwangik, Lee Kiyil, Lee Sehyeon, Lee Yongbaek, Lee Hansoo, Jo Pungnyu, Jeon Youngil, Choi Yoonjung, Han Sangjin, Han Seokkyung

Supported by: Peace Art Exchange Association, Ministry of Unification

When Art Crosses Boundaries

Through painting, sculpture, installation, and media art, the 26 participating artists explore themes of division and connection, memory and reconciliation, nature and coexistence.

Their works do not ignore historical realities.

Instead, they invite viewers to imagine a different future, one where boundaries can become spaces for dialogue rather than separation.

Connecting Peace Beyond Borders

The project extends beyond Korea.

From June 24 to 26, the exhibition will connect with the 2026 Korean Peninsula Peace Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, D.C., through a real-time collaborative performance.

A special local exhibition featuring artists Lee Sehyeon, Choi Yoonjung, Kim Gilhoo, and Sung Taehoon, organized by Jeon Youngil, will also take place.

The participating artworks will be donated, with proceeds supporting initiatives for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Art That Creates Lasting Value

Art has always carried the power to move beyond boundaries.

It preserves stories, connects communities, and creates conversations that continue across generations.

At YEATU, we believe that the value of art should not end with appreciation alone.

YEATU connects artists, cultural assets, and investors by creating new opportunities for people to participate in and support the future of creative value.

Just like The Nearest Peace explores possibilities beyond borders, YEATU continues to support art that challenges limitations and creates meaningful connections.

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