Yoo Youngkuk: Korean Abstraction's Pioneer Yoo Youngkuk (劉永國; YYK), born in 1916, Uljin-gun, South Korea, stands as a monumental figure in the history of Korean modern art—the inaugural champion of abstract expressionism on Korean soil. His artistic journey unfolded against the backdrop of turbulent geopolitical shifts, beginning with formative years steeped in the serene majesty of Taebaek Mountains and culminating in a lifetime dedicated to distilling nature’s essence into pure geometric form and vibrant color fields. From his early training at Bunka Gakuin University in Tokyo—where he enc…