An academic conference exploring the relationship between the renowned late-Joseon period painter Hyewon Shin Yun-bok and his hometown, Eunpyeong, will be held on Tuesday, November 12th, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lee Ho-cheol Book Concert Hall in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. The conference aims to shed light on Shin Yun-bok’s works and life through research in fields such as literature, history, and art.

Jointly organized by the Eunpyeong History Hanok Museum (Director Pyo Moon-song) and the Goryeong Shin Clan Association, the event will open with a presentation by Seo Soo-yong, head of the Korean Institute of Classical Studies. His presentation, titled “A Study on Hyewon Shin Yun-bok’s Family Line and the Goryeong Shin Clan Burial Site in Gusan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu,” will introduce the deep ties between Shin’s family and the Eunpyeong area. This will be followed by a presentation from Lee Yang-jae, a researcher at the Goryeo Cultural Heritage Research Institute, who will discuss “The Life and Art of Hyewon Shin Yun-bok.” Lee will focus on Shin’s achievements not only in genre painting but also in landscape and portrait art, providing a renewed look at the artist's talents and originality.

Professor Kim Jong-soo, an emeritus professor at Kunsan National University, will also present on the topic, “Late Joseon Eunpyeong and the Life of Hyewon Shin Yun-bok,” exploring Eunpyeong’s unique features as a community where many middle-class individuals resided, as well as Shin Yun-bok’s background as a member of a translator family. In addition, the journey of Shin Yun-bok’s life after leaving Dohwaseo, or the Korean Royal Academy of Painting, after which he achieved artistic maturity, will also be closely examined.

A roundtable discussion will feature Yoon Jin-young, former editing director at the Academy of Korean Studies; art historian Choi Yeol; and Shin Kyung-sik, chair of the Goryeong Shin Clan Research Association, who will engage in an in-depth discussion on Shin Yun-bok. A comprehensive discussion led by Lee Won-bok, former director of the Gyeonggi Provincial Museum, will follow, allowing attendees to gain a deeper understanding of Shin’s works and life through a Q&A session.

The conference is part of Eunpyeong-gu’s ongoing efforts to uncover and promote its historical and cultural resources, enhancing its identity as a Korean cultural district. It is expected to reaffirm Eunpyeong as Shin’s hometown and burial site and to offer a fresh perspective on his artistic legacy. Pyo Mun-song, director of the Eunpyeong History Hanok Museum, noted, “The fact that Shin Yun-bok’s family has lived in Eunpyeong for generations serves as a vital clue confirming Eunpyeong as his ancestral home, marking an important starting point for Shin Yun-bok research.”

In addition, participants expressed hopes that this conference will grow into an international event with participation from the global art community, thereby contributing to the global recognition of Korean art alongside the expansion of K-culture.