Chinese participants withdraw from Gwangju Biennale over “Taiwan Pavilion” naming dispute

The news comes just nine days after the South Korean biennale reinstated the name “Taiwan Pavilion” after it was omitted from initial press materials.

The controversy over the name of a Taiwanese exhibition venue at Gwangju Biennale is feared to grow into a diplomatic conflict between Korea and China. Chinese officials say that the biennale organizers’ permission for the participating Taiwanese artists to use the name of “Taiwan Pavilion” is against the “One China” principle, and that the decision crossed a “red line.” They warned that its impact on the bilateral relationship between Korea and China could be as serious as the diplomatic row over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system deployment in 2017. China lodged a protest on Thursday through a press release criticizing the Gwangju Biennale Foundation’s decision to permit Taiwanese artists to use the name “Taiwan Pavilion” at the international art event instead of the institutional name, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA). The release followed Chinese artists' official announcement of their withdrawal from the exhibition. In the release, the embassy said the incident “directly damages the political base of C

Chinese participants in the Gwangju Biennale 2026 withdrew from the art exhibition Thursday, two days before the scheduled opening, in protest of the organizer's decision to allow Taiwanese participants to use the name "Taiwan Pavilion." Chinese Pavilion curator Ruan Yuelai said the Chinese participants "cannot accept this" and have unanimously decided to withdraw from the exhibition as a strong expression of protest. "We have placed great importance on the biennale and had worked hard preparing for it," Ruan said at a press conference at the Ha Jungwoong Museum of Art in Gwangju. "However, the Gwangju Biennale organizers used an incorrect name in connection with Taiwan's participation, allowing political elements to intrude into the realm of art." The Chinese Embassy in Seoul backed the withdrawal with a formal statement, arguing that allowing the name "Taiwan Pavilion" violates the "One China" principle that Korea has committed to respecting. The embassy said it and the Chinese Consulate General in Gwangju had communicated multiple times with both the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolita

Chinese participants of Gwangju Biennale will announce their withdrawal from the art exhibition on Thursday morning, in protest of the organizer’s permission for Taiwanese participants to use the name of “Taiwan Pavilion” instead of their institutional name, a source familiar with the issue said. The Chinese side, together with the Chines Embassy in Korea, has claimed the change of name goes against the “One China” principle that Korea has committed to respect. According to the source, the Chinese participants decided to withdraw from the Gwangju Biennale and will make an official announcement in a press conference on Thursday morning, two days before the international art festival starts, unless the organizer does not reverse its decision. They already stopped preparation for “China Pavilion” several days ago. Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing met officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Mayor Min Hyung-bae to express protest and regret. They also expressed regret over the row but declined to intervene, noting that the