Hzone is an international curatorial consultancy that pioneers innovation at the intersection of art, technology, and the future.

With a firm belief in the social role of art, Hzone expands the boundaries of contemporary curating to encompass themes such as the environment, community, technology, and future-oriented issues. Each project is guided by a distinct social purpose, with carefully designed strategies that explore how art can connect with and expand into society.

Hzone is committed to elevating the global visibility of contemporary Korean art by building international networks. By connecting Korean curators and researchers with the global art scene, Hzone creates platforms for continued dialogue and collaboration that draw international attention to Korean artists.

Through exhibitions, public art initiatives, academic symposiums, art consulting, and publishing, Hzone collaborates with artists and curators from around the world. These multidisciplinary projects generate experimental and meaningful cultural experiences. Hzone proposes new social possibilities through art and continues to lead the way in shaping the practices of contemporary curation.

Our Team

Daehyung Lee, Director

Curator Daehyung Lee emphasizes the social role of art in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, expanding the scope of curating to encompass the environment, community, technology, and the future. In 2017, he curated the Korean Pavilion exhibition Counterbalance at the Venice Biennale and later transformed the proceeds from the exhibition into a donation campaign for We Are Here Venice, an environmental organization in Venice. From 2013 to 2019, as the Art Director at Hyundai Motor Company, he orchestrated various partnership and promotion platforms, collaborating with institutions such as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Tate Modern, LACMA, Bloomberg, Art Union, Blue Prize, and the Hyundai Tate Research Centre. His work involved fostering connections among museum curators, artists, and critics worldwide.

In 2020, he led the CONNECT, BTS public art project, which was featured in over 1,200 media outlets, including the Financial Times, The New York Times, and The Guardian. This global initiative reinterpreted BTS’s musical philosophy through public art projects in five cities—London, Berlin, Seoul, Buenos Aires, and New York—bringing together 22 international artists. Over the past four years, he has also spearheaded the Korea Research Fellow 10X10 program, a global research network connecting 10 Korean curators with 10 international curators to engage in discussions on pressing global issues.

In 2021, to mark the 100th edition of Gwanghwamun Billboard, he directed a project that integrated BTS’s message with media artworks by artists Seo Dong-joo and Lee Ye-seung.Currently, he serves as a jury member for Apollo magazine’s 40 Under 40, an international advisory board member at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore, a board member of the Nam June Paik Cultural Foundation, and a director at Art Center Nabi. Through these roles, he actively contributes to promoting Korean contemporary art and technology on the global stage. Additionally, he is a columnist for the UK-based online magazine StirWorld.

Judy Hyunjung Lee, Curator

Judy Hyunjung Lee received her BA in Art History at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and MA in Arts Management at Seoul National University. Lee developed her expertise in Asian modern and contemporary art market as a specialist and freelance art consultant for Christie’s and Sotheby’s respectively. Continuing to grow her diverse global network, Lee recently extended her experience into the curatorial field by assisting the inauguration of Asia Society’s Triennial in New York, contributing Seoul exhibition reviews for ArtAsiaPacific, and by translating and editing art history publications. Her current role in Hzone includes exhibition planning, and conducting research on planning and operation for domestic and international art institutions.

Jaeho Shim, Curator

Jaeho Shim received his MA in Contemporary Art and Art Theory of Asia and Africa. Shim developed his expertise in the art field as an editor of the contemporary art platform Superglue Collective.

He has produced articles featuring Seoul's young artists, curators, and collectives. He participated as a coordinator of the 2021 Korea Research Fellow and is currently building a transnational network for contemporary art and its curatorial discourse. He is currently involved in public art project management and exhibition planning for Hzone.

Geunbae Yang, Assistant Curator

Geunbae Yang received his BA in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College, University of London and MA in Sculpture at Royal College of Art. Yang was the coordinator of Dialogue, an exhibition presented as a part of a report on the achievements of the Grant for Artist Management program. He is currently involved in public art project management and exhibition planning for Hzone.

Hyeon Jung Lee, Assistant Curator

Hyeon Jung Lee earned her BA and MA in Fine Arts from École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts deParis-Cergy. She gained experience in large-scale exhibition preparation while working as a Artist assistant for Laure Prouvost. Upon returning to Korea, she worked as a curator at N/A Gallery and KICHE Gallery, where she organized various exhibitions. She later joined Efremidis Gallery (now Meyer Riegger Seoul), where she focused on exhibition planning and engaged with diverse aspects of contemporary art. She is currently responsible for exhibition planning and operations at Hzone.

In Young Kim, Assistant Curator

In Young Kim received her BA in Fine Art at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Cultural and Arts Management at Sungkyunkwan University’s Graduate School of Media and Culture. Kim has worked as an educator, media content producer, and cultural arts planner. She is currently responsible for exhibition and public art project planning and operations at Hzone.