Jinseon Kim: A Seoulite’s creative adventure recording the city’s legacy and allure through art

EXPLORING KOREA: Stories from Milwaukee to the DMZ and across a divided Peninsula. This special series explores historical sites and cultural traditions from across the Korean Peninsula, building a bridge back to the search for identity in Milwaukee. From the occupation of Korea at the end of World War II, to Korean War veterans in Milwaukee, veterans from Milwaukee who served in later years at the DMZ, adopted South Korean children who grew up in Milwaukee, different waves of the South Korean diaspora who moved to Milwaukee to raise their families, and even a defector from North Korea, their stories share generations of Korean and American experiences. https://mkeind.com/koreanstories

Seoul, the sprawling capital of South Korea, is a city known for its fascinating blend of ancient traditions and modern technology. Within the dynamic metropolis, one artist made it her mission to explore every corner of the city and document its ever-evolving landscapes.

Jinseon Kim, a Seoul native, spent over a decade traversing Seoul’s 25 districts, capturing its unique charm and spirit through a range of artistic media, including drawings, photographs, written reports, and objects.

During an exclusive interview with Milwaukee Independent at Seoul’s City Hall, Kim shared her personal journey as an artist, her deep connection to Seoul, and the significance of her work in documenting the city’s past and present.

Kim’s July to September exhibition, titled “Seoul Records by a Seoulite,” showcased the culmination of her explorations, and invited the public to experience the diverse allure of the city through her eyes.

Born and raised in Seoul, Kim had always been drawn to the city’s multifaceted nature. For her, Seoul was more than just a place to live. It was a never-ending source of inspiration. What began as a personal project of wandering the city streets evolved into a significant artistic endeavor, with Kim becoming a self-proclaimed “Seoul vagabond” and later a “Seoul guide.”

“Seoul is a massive city featuring Namsan Mountain and the Han River, and it’s divided into 25 districts. Despite its size, one of its greatest advantages is how easy it is to travel around without a car, thanks to its efficient public transportation system,” said Kim. “Starting in January of this year, Seoul introduced the ‘Climate Companion’ card, which allows unlimited use of public transportation for just $47.00 per month.”

Since the introduction of the new transportation card, Kim has been able to explore a wider range of places in Seoul. In addition to the monthly pass, there are also 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day options available. Kim said the card has also seen a high demand in regular usage by foreigners.

A graduate of the College of Fine Art and Design at the Incheon Catholic University, Kim’s artistic journey began in 2013 when she started documenting her explorations of Seoul’s bustling streets. Iconic areas included locations like City Hall, Gwanghwamun, Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam Station. Over the years, her work expanded to cover the entire circular route of Subway Line 2, as well as all 25 districts of Seoul.

“I wanted to share the joy I experienced discovering interesting places in Seoul while freely exploring the city with that transportation card,” said Kim. “So, I organized the information and created a template with illustrations. One of the key points is showing how to get from your current location at City Hall to the place depicted in the illustration using this transportation card.”

Kim said it was her hope that the art exhibition would inspire more people to take an interest in Seoul and come to visit, while also giving them the tools to discover what the nation’s capital had to offer.

“I want to be both a creator and a guide to the diverse charms of Seoul, not only for locals and Koreans from other regions but also for foreign visitors to the city,” said Kim. “Visitors to the exhibition have often said that seeing my artwork makes them want to explore more of Seoul. They also asked how long it would take to visit the places depicted in my work. Many express their gratitude, saying that my art has inspired their travels. I’m thrilled to have achieved my goal of reaching them.”

Kim said she loved Seoul and was always looking for ways to promote it internationally. It was her hope that Milwaukee and Wisconsin would experience her drawings, photos, and writings. And that those records of her love and passion for the city would spread interest and curiosity about Seoul.

At the heart of her artistic work has been her dedication to documenting the city in its most ordinary yet captivating moments. For Kim, art was more than just a creative expression, it was a way of recording history.

“For me, art serves as a tool for recording. The world is continually advancing, with old and modern elements coexisting. However, as things change rapidly, there are many aspects we might feel and discover but miss out on,” said Kim. “I aim to capture those moments.”

In the early days of the project, Kim enjoyed just experiencing the present. However, she realized over time how important it was to capture those moments through her artwork. As the present evolved and changed over time, it became a part of the past.

“Isn’t it wonderful that a personal record can become part of history? I don’t think of my work as recording the grand history of the moment. I simply keep observing and documenting steadily,” said Kim. “It’s time itself that gives my small efforts a place in history.”

As an artist and as a Korean, Kim has been focused on the place where she lives, recording the beauty, charm, and heritage of Korea. While Seoul is her main focus, she also has a great interest in Incheon and Busan.

“This work has given me the confidence to record and create art wherever I go. Beyond Seoul, in any part of Korea, and even outside of Korea, I will observe and document through my own perspective,” said Kim. “I look forward to the day when I can visit Milwaukee and record it through my art.”

Kim’s exhibit artwork was filled with depictions of Seoul’s everyday scenes — its streets, people, and objects — which, over time, transformed into invaluable records of the city’s evolution. She emphasized the importance of recording even the most mundane aspects of life, as those moments often held the key to understanding the deeper cultural and social shifts occurring within a city.

“Looking at the changing cityscape can sometimes make it feel as if the past has disappeared, but the landscapes and records of the past remain intact in my work,” said Kim. “This personal, seemingly small record of the present becomes a historical document over time, reinforcing my resolve to explore and document the city more deeply.”

One of her most notable projects, “Board Game on Subway Line 2,” (2013, 2016, 2018) involved riding Seoul’s iconic circular subway line and getting off at each station to complete a self-imposed mission. The project marked the beginning of her deep dive into Seoul’s neighborhoods, and it remained a significant part of her artistic process.

Another major exhibition included “Walk Work Hongdae (2019),” selected for honors by KB Kookmin Bank’s Artist Program. Such recognition highlighted the public awareness of Kim’s artistic efforts. They were not just about visual representation, but about capturing the spirit of every environment she encountered and then sharing it with others.

“The scenes and elements I collect while walking around become inspiration for my work. As I engage in this daily recording activity, even familiar places and scenes feel like a new and enjoyable journey,” Kim added. “At the beginning of my exhibit ‘Seoul Records by a Seoulite’ is a piece called ‘On the Street,’ which started with the idea that every encounter with one of the countless people on the streets was a special meeting. Initially, it was just a record of scenes collected wherever my steps led. But it later evolved into collecting information from specific viewpoints and locations, becoming a form of cultural documentation.”

EUNPYEONG PUBLIC LIBRARY:

“There are many unique and wonderful libraries in Eunpyeong-gu. Among them, Eunpyeong-gu Public Library is a library with a beautiful view as it is located with Bukhansan Mountain at its back. It is a huge structure like a huge dam, and there are overflows here and there, so the harmony between nature and artificial structures is wonderful. The library building won the 2001 Korea Architecture Culture Award and the 2002 Seoul Architecture Award.”
– Jinseon Kim

GWANGHWAMUN:

“The motif of Seoul City’s character Haechi, ‘Haetae’, faces both sides of Gwanghwamun. Haetae has been a symbol of law since ancient times, and has been erected in the National Assembly, the National Police Agency, and the Supreme Court. In addition to being a symbol of law, it is considered an auspicious animal that prevents fire and disaster, and you can see Haetae guarding the entrance to palaces, etc.”
– Jinseon Kim

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA:

“Yongsan-gu is where I currently live, and I often go there because I can get various insights. The National Museum of Korea is the largest museum in Korea, and the scene where you can see the N Seoul Tower, which is also the symbol of Yongsan-gu, through the window is a unique scenery that draws all the symbols of Yongsan.”
– Jinseon Kim