Special Online Event Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month 『Elaine Ildan Choi, Here and Now』


* 10 selected winners: nyculture beat / Kary Sarrey / Kyong son / Michele Kim / Jnjpk / Jungja Choi / Hwaock kim / Jinho Jang / Vanghn Hart / 사랑하는 나의 밥이 아저씨


Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Korean Cultural Center in New York presented ‘Watch 『Elaine Ildan Choi, Here and Now』 and leave a comment’ online event.

The artist, Elaine Ildan Choi selected a total of 10 comments among the participants, and the selected 10 will receive a special prize, prepared by the artist and the center.


‣ Event Time

Until May 31st (Tuesday), 2022, 11:59 pm ET

‣ Participation Eligibility

Winners MUST be able to pick up the gift in person at the Korean Cultural Center New York offices at 460 Park Ave, 6th Fl, New York, NY, 10022!

* There is NO SHIPPING domestically or internationally.

‣ Winner Announcement 

Winners will be notified by YouTube Direct Message only. (Please check your DMs!)

‣ Pickup 

Gifts must be picked up in person at our New York offices. Prizewinners may pick up their gift at the KCCNY offices at 460 Park Ave, 6th Floor. You MUST notify us regarding your pick up date at least the day prior for entrance into the building.


□ Ildan Choi’s Biography

Elaine Ildan Choi was born in Seoul in 1936 and spent her childhood in Gyeongju, Korea. She grew up during the Japanese occupation period and the Korean War. In 1955, she entered the Department of Painting at Seoul National University College of Fine Art, but graduated from the Department of Sculpture with the desire to master Asian traditional painting by seeking proficiency in all the known Western art techniques at that time. After graduating from art school, she worked as a teacher for nearly 10 years then moved to Vietnam with her family, where she went through another war, the Vietnam War. She then moved to Paris with her husband and family where for three years from 1972, she studied Korean traditional ink painting under one of Korea’s most well-known artists Lee Ungno (pen name Goam, 1904-1989); she is still recognized as Goam’s the only Korean student. After moving to New York in the fall of 1975, she has been a representative Korean diaspora artist who has been active in the New York art scene. In 1986, at the age of 50, she became the first Korean to study abroad at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing in China with a focus on Asian traditional painting. In 1991, she published a series of three books titled Ildan Choi’s Culture and Arts Travel: Jeong, Joong, and Dong (靜, 中, 動) which included 2,000 photos and 200 drawings that she herself documented and drew as she traveled ancient Chinese historical sites during her studies.

  • 1936 Born in Seoul, spent her childhood in Gyeongju, Korea

  • 1955 Entered into the Department of Painting (Western Painting) at Seoul National University College of Fine Art

  • 1956 Transferred to the Department of Sculpture

  • 1960 Graduated from the Department of Sculpture at Seoul National University

  • 1968~1972 Lived in Vietnam

  • 1972~1975 Learned Korean ink painting under Lee Ungno in Paris, France

  • 1975 Moved to New York, USA

  • 1980 First solo exhibition in New York

  • 1986~1988 Majored in Landscape Painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in China

  • 1991 Published a 3-book series: Ildan Choi’s Culture and Arts Travel: Jeong, Joong, and Dong (靜, 中, 動) 

  • 1992 Her collection of Miao Costumes exhibited at the Ewha Womans University Museum 

  • 2005 Held her first invitational exhibition at the Lee Ungno Museum of Art 

  • 2022 Currently lives and works in New York