Dates confirmed. Montage: 31 Aug & 1 Sep. VIP Preview: 2 Sep. Public: 3–6 Sep. Moscow departs 26 Aug, London departs 27 Aug — all arrive Seoul 28 August, 3 days before installation.
Key dates at a glance
Arrive Seoul
28 Aug
All team — 3 days before montage
Montage
31 Aug – 1 Sep
2 days confirmed
VIP Preview
2 Sep
No public access
Public Days
3 – 6 Sep
4 days confirmed
Full schedule
26 Aug
Moscow team departs — Lisa, Patrick, Valentina, Kiana fly out. Connection via Beijing / Doha / Istanbul / Dubai. ~13–16 hours total journey time, arriving Seoul 28 Aug.
27 Aug
London departs — direct flight ~12h 40m, arrives Seoul 28 Aug.
28 Aug
All team arrives Seoul — hotel check-in
3 clear days before installation. Time to settle, liaise with shippers, recce the booth.
3 clear days before installation. Time to settle, liaise with shippers, recce the booth.
29–30 Aug
Pre-installation days — artwork arrives, crates unloaded, booth preparation
31 Aug
Installation Day 1 (Montage) Confirmed
1 Sep
Installation Day 2 (Montage) Confirmed
2 Sep
VIP Preview Day VIP Only Confirmed
No public access. Director must be present.
No public access. Director must be present.
3 Sep
Public Days begin Public Confirmed
Director must be present all public hours. Display changes only 08:30–10:30.
Director must be present all public hours. Display changes only 08:30–10:30.
4–5 Sep
Public Days continue. Director required.
6 Sep
Final public day & de-installation — not before 18:00. Penalty if earlier.
7–9 Sep
Buffer — shipping, crating, handover
10 Sep
Return flights — all team departs Seoul
Total stay in Seoul: 28 August – 10 September = 13 nights.
Traveller
Departing from
London — Heathrow (LHR)
Flying to Seoul Incheon (ICN) · 13 nights · departs 27 Aug, returns 10 Sep
Flight dates
Depart London
27 August
Direct ~12h 40m · arrives Seoul 28 Aug (same day as Moscow team)
Return London
10 September
After de-installation. 13 nights total.
Flight costs — economy return
LHR → ICN, 27 Aug · ICN → LHR, 10 Sep
Direct with Korean Air, Asiana, or Virgin Atlantic · ~12h 40m each way
Book Now
Direct return — Korean Air / Asiana / Virgin Atlantic
$830 – $1,140
Via stopover (e.g. China Eastern via Shanghai) — cheaper, longer
$455 – $630
Recommended budget — direct economy return
~$1,010
September is peak pricing. Kiaf and Frieze Seoul run simultaneously, pushing fares up sharply. Book this week.
Travellers — Lisa, Patrick, Valentina, Kiana
All departing from
Moscow (SVO / DME)
Flying to Seoul Incheon (ICN) · 13 nights · departs 26 Aug, returns 10 Sep · no direct flights available
Flight dates
Depart Moscow
26 August
~13–16 hours including connection · arrives Seoul 28 Aug, one day ahead of London departure
Return Moscow
10 September
After de-installation. 13 nights total.
Flight costs — economy return per person
MOW → ICN, 26 Aug · ICN → MOW, 10 Sep
No direct flights from Moscow — one connection required on all routes
Book Urgently
Air China — via Beijing (shortest connection)
~$776
Qatar Airways — via Doha
~$815
Turkish Airlines — via Istanbul
~$936
Emirates — via Dubai
~$1,052
Budget per person — economy return
~$800–$1,000
Total — all 4 travellers (Lisa, Patrick, Valentina, Kiana)
~$3,200–$4,000
Book this week without fail. Western airlines cannot fly to/from Russia due to airspace restrictions. Only Air China, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Emirates are available. September seats go fast — Frieze Seoul runs at the same time as Kiaf. Each person books independently.
Check-in: 28 August. Check-out: 10 September. 13 nights for all travellers.
Recommended — best located, highest rated
Oakwood Premier Coex Center ★ 4.7 · Reviews →
46, Teheran-ro 87-gil, Gangnam-gu · Directly attached to COEX
★★★★★ — Most convenient, on-site
Top Pick
Studio Superior (Double/Twin) — Sun–Thu
KRW 270,000 /night (~$184)
Studio Superior (Double/Twin) — Fri–Sat
KRW 330,000 /night (~$225)
Studio Premier (Double/Twin) — Sun–Thu
KRW 290,000 /night (~$197)
Stay period
28 Aug – 10 Sep 2026 (13 nights)
Estimated cost — 1 room, 13 nights
~KRW 3,700,000 (~$2,515)
Parking, pool & gym
Complimentary
Breakfast
Not included — KRW 29,040/person if added
Reservation
reservations.opcc@oakwoodpremier.co.kr
Park Hyatt Seoul ★ 4.4 · Reviews →
606, Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu · 5 min from COEX
★★★★★ — Luxury option, very close to fair
15% Kiaf Discount
Rate
15% off Best Available Rate — promo code 174631
Stay period
28 Aug – 10 Sep (book by 31 Aug)
Estimated nightly rate after 15% discount
~KRW 350,000–450,000 (~$238–$306)
Estimated cost — 1 room, 13 nights
~$3,094–$3,978
Reservation
Hyatt.com with code 174631 · or selph.reservations@hyatt.com
Other Kiaf-affiliated hotels
The Westin Seoul Parnas ★ 4.5 · Reviews →
524, Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu · Near COEX · ★★★★★
Guest Room (incl. VAT)
KRW 514,250 /night (~$350)
Estimated cost — 1 room, 13 nights
~$4,550
Includes
Free Wi-Fi, gym & indoor pool
Reservation
westin.convention@parnas.co.kr
Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul Gangnam ★ 4.4 · Reviews →
640 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu · ★★★★★
Hotel Deluxe Double (King)
KRW 286,000 /night (~$195)
Residence 1Bed Deluxe (Queen)
KRW 330,000 /night (~$225)
Estimated cost — 1 room, 13 nights (Deluxe King)
~$2,535
Includes
Free parking, pool, gym, 10% F&B discount
Reservation
HC3E4-RE@accor.com
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam ★ 4.4 · Reviews →
130, Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu · ★★★★
Superior Double/Twin
KRW 275,000 /night (~$187)
Deluxe Double/Twin
KRW 308,000 /night (~$209)
Estimated cost — 1 room, 13 nights (Superior)
~$2,431
Includes
Free parking
Reservation
novogres@ambatel.com
Hotel Crescendo Seoul Reviews →
428, Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu · Budget-friendly · ★★★★
Breakfast Included
Petite Queen/Twin — Sun–Thu
KRW 135,000 /night (~$92)
Boutique King — Sun–Thu
KRW 176,000 /night (~$120)
Estimated cost — 1 room, 13 nights (Petite)
~$1,196
Breakfast
Included for up to 2 guests
Reservation
cres-rsvn@hotelcres.co.kr
All rates include VAT unless stated. 13-night estimates use a blended average of Sun–Thu and Fri–Sat rates where applicable. KRW converted at approx $1 = KRW 1,471 (May 2026 rate) — verify before booking. Number of rooms needed across the team is TBC.
Moscow departs 26 Aug · London departs 27 Aug · All arrive Seoul 28 Aug · Hotels 28 Aug – 10 Sep (13 nights)
This week — without fail
1
Lisa, Patrick, Valentina, Kiana — book Moscow flights departing 26 August, returning 10 September. Air China via Beijing is the shortest and cheapest option (~$776/person). Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Emirates also available. Budget ~$800–$1,000 each, ~$3,200–$4,000 total. Book via Aviasales or Google Flights. Each person books independently.
2
London — book flight departing 27 August, returning 10 September. Direct with Korean Air, Asiana or Virgin Atlantic (~12h 40m). Budget ~$1,010 economy return.
3
Book accommodation for 28 Aug – 10 Sep (13 nights). Oakwood Premier Coex Center is the strongest choice — directly attached to COEX, free parking and pool, ~$2,515 per room. Email reservations.opcc@oakwoodpremier.co.kr. For luxury, Park Hyatt use promo code 174631 for 15% off.
4
Pre-register shipping vehicles. Loading dock access outside the confirmed montage days (31 Aug & 1 Sep) requires advance registration. Email operation@kiaf.org.
5
Purchase artwork insurance before shipping. KIAF takes no responsibility for loss or damage.
!
VIP Preview is 2 September. Director must be present. Confirm VIP badge allocation with KIAF at kiaf@kiaf.org.
Full cost estimate — all 5 travellers
Moscow team — 4 travellers (26 Aug – 10 Sep)
~$3,200–$4,000
~$800–$1,000/adult · Kiana child fare will be lower
London — 1 traveller (27 Aug – 10 Sep)
~$1,010
Direct economy return, LHR–ICN
Total flights — all 5 travellers (estimate)
~$4,210–$5,010
Verify live prices before booking — September fares fluctuate
Accommodation — Oakwood Premier, per room, 13 nights (28 Aug – 10 Sep)
~$2,515 per room
Blended KRW 270,000–330,000/night rate. Number of rooms TBC.
Contacts
KIAF General
kiaf@kiaf.org
Shipping / Loading
operation@kiaf.org
Oakwood Hotel
reservations.opcc@oakwoodpremier.co.kr