The PharmaResearch Culture Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2018 by the global biopharmaceutical company PharmaResearch. The Foundation is committed to fostering the organic growth and sustainable development of local arts and culture. Drawing on Chairperson Pilhyun Park’s artistic vision and support for the arts, shaped by her experience as a Korean painter, as well as Curator Sohee Park’s expertise, the foundation engages with local communities and offers new artistic experiences in everyday life.
Through the Gangneung International Art Festival (GIAF), the first regional art festival in Korea organized by a private company, the Foundation has cultivated a distinctive cultural discourse by bringing together the unique narratives of Gangneung and the language of contemporary art. In 2027, the Foundation will present the Gangneung International Art Festival 2027 (GIAF27), centered around the multidisciplinary arts and culture space INON (working title). Designed in collaboration with architect Byoung Soo Cho (BCHO Partners) and landscape architect Youngsun Jung (Seo-Ahn), the space will be unveiled to the public through a pre-opening during GIAF27, offering a first glimpse into an experimental platform where art, architecture, and nature coexist ahead of its official opening in 2028.
Building on PharmaResearch's core value of Regeneration, the Foundation also carries out community-focused initiatives, including support for the Barefoot Forest Trail at the National Daegwallyeong Healing Forest and programs for youth from migrant backgrounds. More recently, the Foundation has expanded its international network through collaborations with Bangkok Kunsthalle in Thailand. Looking ahead, we will continue to share Gangneung's cultural identity with the world while contributing to the cultivation of a vibrant and sustainable cultural ecosystem.
