The Gwangju Biennale, a prominent Asian art exhibition in South Korea, is facing a boycott from Chinese artists due to the organizers’ decision to name a Taiwanese exhibition space the “Taiwan Pavilion.” China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory and typically refers to it as “China’s Taiwan region,” has criticized the organizers for this naming choice, deeming it “completely incompatible with its status.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry has urged South Korea to uphold the “one China” principle, while Chinese artists have withdrawn from the festival in protest.

The dispute arose from differences between the Gwangju Biennale organizers and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts over the pavilion’s name. Initially, the organizers believed they had an agreement for the Taiwanese exhibition to be labeled under the museum’s acronym, “NTMoFA.” However, the Taiwanese museum later insisted on the name “Taiwan Pavilion,” leading to the current impasse. The art festival has since apologized for the confusion, but the incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Taiwan’s international representation and China’s sensitivity to any acknowledgment of Taiwan’s sovereignty. South Korea, which seeks to maintain positive relations with China as its largest trading partner, has distanced itself from the naming decision, emphasizing that it was made by a non-governmental entity.

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