This art collector in Seoul owns over 100 artworks by Korean masters from the 1960s and contemporary artists

In the heart of Seoul's bustling Gangnam-gu district lies a restaurant and wine bar that offers more than just a culinary destination.

Owned by entrepreneur and art collector Shim Jun-Sub, OPNNG also doubles up as a gallery to display Shim’s collection – over 100 artworks by Korean modern masters from the 1960s to present day contemporary artists. Shim also has another restaurant, Taste and Taste, which he uses to showcase the artwork he has amassed over the years.

“I have always loved collecting since I was young. Ultimately, collecting is the act of creating a composition, not simply buying something. Every piece I collect has a story,” said Shim.

His tightly curated collection includes pieces by Dansaekhwa masters such as Lee Ufan and Park Seo-bo, avant-garde pioneers like Lee Kun-Yong and contemporary artists Lee Bae and Kim Chong-hak.

He credits his experience in building South Korea's largest online fashion platform, Musinsa, for honing his eye for aesthetics and style, which he now applies to his art collection.

“After I quit my previous job, I often went to art fairs as I wanted to get a gift for myself. This led me to start collecting art. The pursuit of beauty is common in the cultures of fashion and art,” he said.

For Shim, his restaurants are meant to function as cultural spaces where food, art and design come together to create a truly immersive experience.

“OPNNG refers to opening wine, trying new tastes, and discovering new experiences,” said Shim of the restaurant, which offers an extensive wine list to complement the predominantly Western style dishes.

He has dedicated space to display about 12 to 13 different artworks at any given time and regularly changes the art – except for one by South Korean artist, critic, philosopher and poet Lee Ufan. This framed work features a red object painted by Lee onto a plate by artist Park Young-sook.

“I think this piece symbolises us. Mr Lee Ufan created this work using the colour of wine on a plate, so I think it shows the three elements of our food, art and wine very well.”

Shim also places great importance on the artwork placed at the entrance – it has to be impactful but still keep the guest interested in discovering the other displays within its four walls. “It has to be in charge of the ‘beginning’ of the exhibition,” he remarked.

The current opening piece is by ‘G-Sim’ Seyeon, a finger painter. “He paints on the canvas directly with his fingers and his performance is very powerful. This is why we chose this piece as our main artwork,” said Shim.

One of the first few artwork Shim bought was by rising contemporary artist Aokizy, who is known for his eye-catching take on anime characters.

Since then, he has continued to develop his collection and trace the history of modern and contemporary Korean art. Along the way, he also struck up firm friendships with like-minded people, such as street artist Grafflex, who has even become his travel buddy.

“I create unique graphics using various objects and materials, which I transfer to canvas and make sculptures. I get inspiration from my feelings about various things like music, and sometimes even random things in passing. Ultimately, it is about the experience,” said Grafflex, who is sought after for his pop sensibilities.

Shim’s penchant for collecting is not limited to artworks. He also owns two classic cars, including a Porsche. His Porsche was even customised by Akira Nakai of Rauh Welt Begriff (RWB), who is known for creating one-of-a-kind designs. Nakai is internationally renowned for his extreme body conversions of Porsche cars.

“He does the customisation live in front of a large audience, like a performance,” said Shim, who is one of only three people in South Korea who own a RWB Porsche. “He cut off the fender of my classic Porsche with a chainsaw – it was destructive but impressive to watch!”

As he looks to the future, Shim’s vision for OPNNG extends beyond its current incarnation. He hopes to expand the brand to occupy an entire building and dreams of creating a multi-dimensional space that includes a more extensive exhibition area on top of the dining space and wine bar.

He said: “I am not an important person (in the art scene) but a collector with a unique direction. I would love to see this vision come to life.”