PharmaResearch Culture Foundation

The PharmaResearch Culture Foundation, led by Chairman and Korean painter Pilhyun Park, was established in May 2018 as a non-profit foundation by PharmaResearch, a company specializing in regenerative medicine. The foundation aims to create a better society through culture and arts, guided by Chairman Park’s deep understanding and interest in culture, arts, and their values.

The PharmaResearch Culture Foundation appointed curator, actively involved in visual arts, as the artistic director in 2020. This move aimed to go beyond one-way sponsorship activities and lead cultural and artistic events in Gangneung that promote communication and experiences. To realize the true value of art, which cannot be quantified, the foundation organized the ‘Gangneung International Art Festival (GIAF),’ the first regional art festival hosted by a private company in Korea. This festival researches the unique stories of the Gangneung area, secures meaningful locations, and invites domestic and international artists to plan various exhibitions and programs, creating a regional art festival for everyone to enjoy. Gangneung International Art Festival 2022(GIAF22) began in 2022, and the second festival (GIAF23) successfully concluded in 2023, solidifying its position.
Through this process, the PharmaResearch Culture Foundation has gained confidence in organizing events led by the foundation.

The foundation is enlarging its team to expand its activities into more diverse projects. Led by Diretor, who has spearheaded the GIAF for two consecutive sessions, the foundation is actively recruiting many talents, striving to improve the stable employment environment in the cultural and arts sector. Additionally, the foundation is undertaking projects such as children’s and youth programs, publishing, and establishing a complex cultural and arts space in collaboration with its parent company, PharmaResearch.


Additionally, the PharmaResearch Culture Foundation is carrying out various social contribution activities in Gangneung, inheriting the core value of ‘regeneration‘ from PharmaResearch. The foundation supports the Buddy Program of the Dabom Human Rights Center Foundation to help migrant youth adapt to the culture. It contributed to establishing the ‘Barefoot Forest Trail‘ at the National Center for Forest Therapy, Daegwallyeong, in 2023, striving to develop Gangneung City. It also commits to marginalized communities through ongoing activities such as donating to the Red Cross Gangwon branch and participating in coal briquette volunteer work. Furthermore, the foundation has actively supported Gangneung’s cultural and arts scene by sponsoring the ‘Gangneung International Film Festival‘ from 2019 to 2021, backing the establishment of the media art exhibition center ‘ARTE MUSEUM VALLY GANGNEUNG’ in 2021, and sponsoring the ’24th Shinsaimdang Art Exhibition‘ and the ‘Gangneung World Choir Games’ in 2023, as well as the ‘Gangneung Danoje Festival‘ in 2024.

Through these diverse cultural, artistic, and social contribution projects, the PharmaResearch Culture oundation is dedicated to building Gangneung’s cultural and artistic infrastructure and striving to elevate Gangneung’s status as a city of culture and arts on the global stage.

PharmaResearch Culture Foundation Website( https://culture.pharmaresearch.kr/en/)