Set aside the idea that bringing art into your home is a luxury. Real original works under KRW 1 million — even under KRW 300,000 — sit among SAF's 127 artists. We curated 20 of them.
20 Works at SAF Under ₩1 Million
A first original should arrive at a price that is "not too cheap, but not too heavy." Too cheap and it feels like decor; too heavy and you can't summon the courage. In practice, the ₩300,000–1 million range delivers the highest satisfaction for first-time collectors.
This list gathers 20 works currently for sale under ₩1 million from the 127 artists participating in SAF (Seed Art Festival). It spans size, technique, and subject so you can compare your tastes in one place.
This list refreshes monthly. As works sell, they're swapped for new ones. For the current state, check the SAF gallery.
How We Curated This — The Criteria
This isn't 20 random pieces. We applied four criteria:
- Price: All under ₩1 million (excluding VAT and shipping)
- Diversity: A balanced mix of painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photography, and mixed media
- Career range: Emerging through mid-career artists, so you can compare across taste
- Density of work: Pieces whose process and technical complexity make sense relative to size
Distribution by Price
The 20 pieces break down roughly as follows:
- Under ₩300,000: 5 pieces — for a first foot in the door
- ₩300,000–500,000: 7 pieces — the most common first-purchase range
- ₩500,000–800,000: 5 pieces — works approaching the artist's signature output
- ₩800,000–1,000,000: 3 pieces — the range where serious collecting begins to make sense
🎨 Under ₩300,000 — Five Picks for Your First Work
1. [Artist A] — 〈Title〉 (drawing, A4)
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size]
- Technique: pencil and watercolor mixed media
- Why this work: Artist [A] has spent five years working obsessively on [subject]. This drawing is a small-scale version of the signature series; it brings you closest to the artist's hand.
- Artwork page →
2. [Artist B] — 〈Title〉 (limited print, edition of 50)
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size]
- Technique: silkscreen
- Why this work: The chance to own [Artist B]'s signature image as a limited print. Numbers from the edition of 50 are still available, so the choice is wide.
- Artwork page →
3. [Artist C] — 〈Title〉 (watercolor, postcard size)
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size]
- Technique: watercolor
- Why this work: A piece from Artist [C]'s travel-sketch series. The artist's signature light, transparent touch comes through clearly.
- Artwork page →
4. [Artist D] — 〈Title〉 (woodblock print)
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size]
- Technique: woodblock print, edition of 30
- Why this work: A woodblock print the artist carved and pressed by hand. The grain of the woodblock translates onto the paper, building a warm texture.
- Artwork page →
5. [Artist E] — 〈Title〉 (small oil)
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size]
- Technique: oil, 10-ho or smaller
- Why this work: Small in scale, but the artist's central subject is concentrated here. A natural fit for a small study or bedroom wall.
- Artwork page →
🖼️ ₩300,000–500,000 — The Most Popular First-Collection Range (7 picks)
6. [Artist F] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
7. [Artist G] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
8. [Artist H] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
9. [Artist I] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
10. [Artist J] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
11. [Artist K] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
12. [Artist L] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
🏺 ₩500,000–800,000 — Five Picks Approaching the Signature Work
13. [Artist M] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
14. [Artist N] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
15. [Artist O] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
16. [Artist P] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
17. [Artist Q] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Artwork page →
🏛️ ₩800,000–1,000,000 — Three Picks for Serious Consideration
18. [Artist R] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Career highlights: [major exhibitions, awards, collections]
- Artwork page →
19. [Artist S] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Career highlights: [major exhibitions, awards, collections]
- Artwork page →
20. [Artist T] — 〈Title〉
- Price: ₩[price]
- Size: [size] | Technique: [technique]
- Career highlights: [major exhibitions, awards, collections]
- Artwork page →
Pre-Purchase Checklist
Found a work you like? Confirm these three things before buying.
-
Check
edition_typeon the artwork detail pageunique(one-of-a-kind original) /limited(limited edition print) /open(open edition)- For the differences, see Print vs Original vs Reproduction
-
Match the size to your actual space
- Measure your wall in advance.
- Too small and the work feels lost; too large and the wall feels crowded. 40–65% of the wall's width is the sweet spot.
-
Calculate your total spend
- Artwork price + shipping + (if needed) framing
- For the full breakdown, see First Original Collecting Under ₩300,000
A Single Work Becomes a Seed for the Fund
Buying at SAF isn't simply an art transaction. The 127 participating artists submitted their work voluntarily to address the financial discrimination their fellow artists face, and proceeds feed into a low-interest mutual aid loan fund.
The ₩300,000, ₩600,000, or ₩1 million you spend on a work becomes some other artist's monthly studio rent that month. One more reason to start your collecting at SAF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What if a work on the list is already sold? A. The list refreshes monthly. Sold works drop out at the next update. For real-time status, see the SAF gallery.
Q. Where can I see works above ₩1 million? A. Adjust the price filter on the full artworks page, or look out for an upcoming "Under ₩2 Million" curation.
Q. Can I order several pieces at once? A. Yes. Just add each piece to your cart. Note that artists ship from different locations, so deliveries may arrive separately.
Q. Is the order of the list a ranking? A. No. The order is by price tier. Within a tier, sequence is for editorial readability and carries no other meaning.
May this list become the first step toward your first work. Once a single piece hangs on the wall, you won't need a guide for the next one. The home itself starts to teach you.
More in Buying Guide
If this piece helped, the SAF Magazine has more in the same series:
- Under ₩500,000, Under 30cm — Seven First Pieces for Small Spaces and Small Budgets — A guide for collectors sensitive to price and size — single-occupant studios, officetels, renters. Seven works under ₩500,000 and 35cm, five strengths of small sizes, six placement spots, three pairing recommendations.
- Your Second Artwork — A Curation Guide for the Step After Your First Piece — A curation guide for the step after your first artwork. Five paths for the second piece — same-artist series, medium diversification, one tier up, entering the master tier, 2D to sculpture — with recommended works per path.
- Investment vs. Possession — The Two Paths of a First Collector — Investment vs. possession in Korean art collecting — five myths, market data, and examples viewed through both lenses.
SAF Magazine
Published May 14, 2026
