Application period: June 3–July 15, 2026
SeMA, Seoul Museum of Art
Seoul 04515
South Korea
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10am–8pm
contact@mediacityseoul.kr
The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) is pleased to announce an open call for the position of Artistic Director of the 14th Seoul Mediacity Biennale.
Originally launched with the exhibition SEOUL in MEDIA in 1996, the Seoul Mediacity Biennale is the only Biennale in Korea hosted by a museum and serves as SeMA’s flagship international exhibition. Over the past three decades, the Seoul Mediacity Biennale has functioned as a platform to produce contemporary art by bringing together the rapidly changing media environment and the dynamic nature of the expanding city of Seoul.
For its 14th edition, SeMA is seeking an Artistic Director (individual or team) with a distinctive vision who will lead the next edition of the Biennale through critical engagement with contemporary society and innovative approaches to media and contemporary art.
Key information
Exhibition period (tentative): August 16–November 14, 2027
Exhibition venues: Seoul Museum of Art, Seosomun Branch; parts of the Seo-Seoul Museum of Art; Paik Ground SeMA; and parts of Media Art Seoul Exhibition Platform managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government
Project budget: approximately KRW 2.5 billion (based on the 13th edition)
Host and organizer: Seoul Museum of Art
Open position: Artistic Director (individual or team) for the 14th Seoul Mediacity Biennale
Time commitment: Part-time (with flexibility to transition to full-time depending on the project schedule)
Position period: through December 2027
Compensation: approximately KRW 60 million (individual) / KRW 80 million (team)
Qualifications
Demonstrated expertise in contemporary art and, within the past five years from the date of this announcement, experience serving as director or chief curator of an international art project on the scale of a Biennale. Ability to contribute to the domestic and international networks of the Biennale and SeMA. Ability to successfully realize the Biennale exhibition and oversee communications related to public relations for Seoul's representative Biennale. Ability to visit and stay in Seoul for a sufficient period of time. Ability to develop and realize detailed plans that correspond with SeMA’s institutional systems and requirements. Commitment to human rights and rejection of sexual harassment and discrimination.
Major roles and responsibilities
–Establish exhibition theme, develop exhibition plan, select artists and artworks, install exhibited works, produce related texts and adhere to budget management policies for the SMB14
–Plan related programs, publications and events of the SMB14
–Coordinate all tasks related to public relations and sponsorship objectives of the SMB14
–Cooperate with 솓 Biennale team and other departments of SeMA including participation in related events
–Submit reports throughout the process of completing each task
–Fulfill additional requirements as determined by SeMA
What we are looking for
–A critical perspective on media art and contemporary art grounded in the identity of the Seoul Mediacity Biennale.
–A future-oriented model for the Biennale that reflects the history, culture, and locality of Seoul.
–A progressive and challenging curatorial vision that combines a contemporary understanding of “media” with cultural imagination and insight into contemporary society, grounded in in-depth research and investigation.
–Strategies for shaping the evolving identity of the Seoul Mediacity Biennale while proposing an exhibition plan that engages the distinct spatial characteristics of the Seoul Museum of Art.
–A curatorial proposal that distinguishes itself from other Biennales and has not previously been realized through exhibitions or programs in Korea or internationally.
Calendar
Applications accepted: June 3–July 15, 2026 (midnight KST)
Announcement of shortlisted candidates for interviews (tentative): August 21, 2026
Final-round interview: August 27, 2026
Announcement of final selection (tentative): August 31, 2026
For further details and application guidelines, please visit here. Please direct inquiries to: contact@mediacityseoul.kr
