Cho Seong-jin to headline Kiaf Seoul’s classical music program

Star pianist Cho Seong-jin will perform at this year's Kiaf Classic, the classical music program of the landmark Kiaf Seoul art fair.

Dubbed “Kiaf Classic: Resonance of Coexistence with Seong-Jin Cho,” the performance will take place at the Coex Auditorium in southern Seoul on Sept. 4.

Cho won the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition, one of the world's most prestigious piano competitions, in 2015. The competition is held every five years.

Kiaf Classic is a classical music program designed to broaden the connection between art and music in line with the art fair's theme.

This year’s Kiaf Seoul will kick off on Sept. 2 and run through Sept. 6 under the theme “coexistence" and will run in tandem with the international fair, Frieze Seoul 

The 2026 exhibition reexamines the unique value of human perception and creativity while exploring a new ontological balance between humans and technology in an era of rapid advances in AI and digital technology, according to the art fair.

During the fair, two special exhibitions, dubbed “Humal” and “Virtual Vital,” are to take place. 

While “Humal” is an exhibition that reexamines human instinct, physical perception and vitality in an era when AI and algorithms are reshaping everyday life, “Virtual Vital” will present an augmented reality (AR) extension of the “Humal” exhibition.

Visitors can scan QR codes installed throughout the exhibition to view AR artworks. Exclusive Kiaf merchandise will be given to those who complete the full AR experience.

Talk sessions will also take place during the event from Sept. 3 to 5 at Coex Studio 159.

Kiaf was launched in 2002 as Korea's first international art fair and remains the country’s largest fair by the number of participating galleries.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]