Yoo Youngkuk: A Pioneer of Korean Abstract Art Yoo Youngkuk (劉永國; denoted as YYK) stands as a monumental figure in the history of Korean art, recognized universally as the first abstract painter and one of the foremost masters of modern Korean painting. His artistic journey began amidst profound societal transformations—the annexation of Korea by Japan, World War II, and the Korean War—yet he steadfastly pursued his vision of abstraction despite immense challenges. Born in 1916 in Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Yoo’s formative years were steeped in the majesty of Taebaek Mountains, a…