The Ilwoo Foundation, a public-interest foundation under Hanjin Group, announced Monday that it has selected artist Yoi as the final winner of the 2026 Ilwoo Art Award.
Yoi is a next-generation artist who works across video, performance, and sound, building a distinctive artistic language based on her experiences with the haenyeo (female diver) community on Jeju Island. In her signature work "Why I Swim," she likens the process of learning to swim in Jeju to "a process of rethinking the senses of learning and control," exploring the relationship between the individual and the community.
The winner was chosen through a rigorous selection process that included a first-round review of portfolios and work proposals, followed by a second-round interview with the jury.
The jury consisted of five members: Yuki Kamiya, chief curator at the National Art Center, Tokyo; Shim Sang-yong, professor of sculpture at Seoul National University; Yoon Yul-lee, chief curator at the Ilmin Museum of Art; Park Ji-sun, VIP representative for Art Basel Korea and Asia director at Schwartzman&; and James Taylor-Foster, director of Para Site in Hong Kong.
The winner will present new work through a solo exhibition at Ilwoo Space, the foundation's exhibition venue. Nam Hwa-yeon, the 2024 winner, will hold her exhibition this year, while An Jung-ju, the 2025 winner, and Yoi, the 2026 winner, will hold their exhibitions in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Hanjin Group operates Ilwoo Space, located in the lobby of Korean Air's Seosomun Building, to present high-quality exhibitions.
Hanjin Group established the Ilwoo Photography Award in 2009, holding 13 competitions through 2022 and supporting a total of 36 photographers. Since 2024, the program has been renewed under the name Ilwoo Art Award. The award selects one emerging or mid-career artist with talent and passion through an open call. To nurture artists with international competitiveness, the foundation provides 30 million won for production costs and 30 million won worth of airline tickets for artistic activities.
