A new museum is set to open Thursday in Suwon near the historic site of the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace. 

Suwon Ipark Museum of Art is the first city-run museum in Suwon, the largest city in Gyeonggi Province with 1.1 million people.

“The museum realizes a long-held wish to create a space to bring art and art education to Suwon citizens,” said Jeong Seung-bo, exhibition director of the museum.

The museum building, designed, constructed and donated by Hyundai Development Company to the Suwon city government, seeks to create a harmony with the neighboring historic area where the UNESCO-designated Suwon Hwaseong Fortress is located. “Ipark,” in the museum’s name, is a brand owned by the construction company.

The opening exhibition “NOW US” presents 400 works of 110 local artists who will show the distinct artistic identity of Suwon until Nov. 22. Admission is free. 

“The museum will serve as a platform for Suwon-based artists to introduce their works to the public and promote them through exchanges with foreign art museums,” said Jeong.

Museum officials said the museum will set up an archive of Suwon artists through research and support currently practicing artists, as well as attract citizens to participate in art education programs.

The museum opens from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March to October and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November to February. For more information, visit sima.suwon.go.kr.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)