Two prints by artist Choi Young-wook will be sold through “social shopping” for the first time in Korea, a mobile art application provider said Thursday.

Culture media company artday, which runs the mobile application “artday” on both Android and Apple smartphones, said two versions of his internationally-popular print work “Karma” will be sold both on the application and the company’s website at www.artday.co.kr from 10 a.m. on May 9. The mobile application provides extensive information about local art exhibitions, discount coupons for art cafes and products, and user reviews.

Choi produced only 150 copies each of the two prints, as limited editions, the company said. To prevent illegal trading of the prints, the company and the artist agreed not to reproduce the prints in the future. 

Choi’s prints are estimated to be worth about 700,000 won to 800,000 won a piece, but social shopping will help slash the price to 300,000 won, artday said.

To help establish the right culture for appreciating printed art, Choi followed internationally-approved guidelines when making the limited edition, artday said.

The production of A/P, or artist’s proof, was limited to 15 percent of the amount of the total production of the limited editions and the artist discarded all the materials used for the production of the prints to prevent illegal copies.

The company has been receiving reservations for Choi’s works since May 2 on the application and the website.

Meanwhile, artday is also participating in the Seoul Open Art Fair, which runs through May 8 at COEX in Samseong-dong in southern Seoul. At its booth, it will hold a preview exhibition of Choi’s prints.

The 46-year-old’s collections are held by renowned institutions, including the Bill Gates Foundation and Philadelphia Museum of Art.

For more information on the purchase of the art, call artday at (02) 3210-2255.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)