Jungwoo Ha, an actor and film director who represents the Korean film industry, such as the movie "T.. - MK (2025)

Jungwoo Ha, an actor and film director who represents the Korean film industry, such as the movie "The Chaser" and "Along with the Gods," has been in public for the first time as an artist. The opportunity was to hold a solo exhibition at Hakgojae Gallery with a history of more than 30 years, where exhibitions by Korean art masters such as Paik Nam-joon, Lee Woo-hwan, Jeong Sang-hwa and Yoon Seok-nam were held.

At a press conference for an individual exhibition held at the main building of Hakgojae in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 16th, Jungwoo Ha said, "After graduating from university, I started to paint to endure an uncertain tomorrow. I loved drawing and had so much fun like a child, and that time was a time to comfort me, he said. "When I entered the movie shooting, I hung canvas cloth on the wall of the hotel room and drew pictures. Two years ago, when we filmed the movie 'Unofficial Operation', we sent materials to Morocco in containers to set up a studio next to the set and work frequently," he said. In particular, it is explained that since the beginning of this year, he has not filmed at all and has only been immersed in preparing for the exhibition in the studio from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The exhibition, titled "Never tell anyone outside the family," features 35 new paintings he painted with the inspiration he received during his five-month stay in Morocco. Examples include a carpet series in which carpet images with traditional Moroccan patterns are transferred to canvas and a mask series that homage to Korean traditional masks. The overall color is also unique with the color that does not mix or paint different colors in the exotic atmosphere that seems to be painted by a Third World artist.

The carpet series "Untied" (2024), which is hung at the entrance of the exhibition hall, is the 200th masterpiece of the Jungwoo Ha. It is a work that completes the pattern by drawing countless lines in detail with a needle-like oil-based pen on acrylic paint, and the detailed expression attracts attention. Jungwoo Ha said, "I bought 20 carpets from Morocco and brought them with me. "I was reminded of the image when I bought a magazine with carpet photos online," he said. "The pattern drawn in the 200th work was created completely in my head." Like the title of the exhibition, it was intended to capture the artist's inner secret scenery.

Jungwoo Ha has been a writer for the past decade, starting with its first solo exhibition in 2010, but has never appeared as a writer in public. He said, "It was more embarrassing than avoiding it. I thought it was nothing grand and nothing to put forward, he said. "I think I've come this far because my passion and love for painting have accumulated." Jungwoo Ha, who always had to receive unfavorable attention because he was not a full-time writer, said, "There were almost 98% of bad stories. Still, I've come so far with the idea that it's important for me to keep going," he said. "I don't think it actually means that much without being recognized as a writer."

Hakgojae Gallery, which targets young collectors with Jungwoo Ha works, also plans to put Jungwoo Ha as its main writer at the art fair "Expo Chicago" in Chicago in April next year. It is Ha Jung-woo's first overseas exhibition. Jungwoo Ha said, "I think I was lucky enough to be chosen (by the gallery), just as actor activities were chosen (by the production team)." I think Jungwoo Ha artist is an artist who can expand the scope of the art market and promote K art, said Woo Chan-kyu, CEO of Hakgojae Gallery. We are not at the stage of discussing an exclusive contract right now, but we are not considering this individual exhibition as a one-off exhibition," he said.

"I learned how to paint while watching a documentary film about the works of masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, and Henri Matisse, and their stories," he said, adding, "For me, these are the 'brothers' who taught me how to paint." When asked if he would like to receive art education, he replied, "I once thought about going to graduate school, but now if I have time, I want to go to a new place and spend a time like 'living a month' to focus on my work."