Issue 64: The Indescribable Beauty of Our Surroundings: The Art of Lee Me Kyeoung
How one Korean artist captures the disappearing corner stores of neighborhood life
Hi KP!
Do you ever stop to really look at how beautiful our surroundings are? South Korean artist Lee Me Kyeoung captures scenes we might not notice in our everyday lives anymore—small neighborhood stores that are slowly disappearing, replaced by chain stores and new establishments. Yet these paintings serve as records of what neighborhoods were like before, preserving their history stroke by stroke.
Lee Me Kyeoung's main subject matter is "구멍가게" (goo-muhng-ga-gae)—corner stores or neighborhood convenience stores that are typically small, family-run shops selling everyday items like snacks, drinks, cigarettes, and basic household goods. The term literally translates to "hole store," reflecting their modest size.
When I look at her paintings, I find myself staring at them for a very long time, my eyes resting on every corner of the painting. These stores are worn and old; you can imagine that their merchandise might be covered with dust. But there's an indescribable beauty in the way the artist captures people's lives with all her heart and love. There are no people in any piece, yet you can feel their warmth so vividly. This beauty reaches so deep into my heart that I can't wait to share it with everyone.
All images here are from the artist's website. After scrolling through, head over to see more—I simply can't get enough of her work.
Sweet & Salty: Art of Lee Me Kyeoung 이미경
Lee Me Kyeoung extensively traveled throughout South Korea and started recording "구멍가게" (goo-muhng-ga-gae: corner stores or neighborhood convenience stores) in rural areas and small city neighborhoods that used to serve as the center of their communities in the past.
Her works are so spot-on. You can show these to anyone who grew up in South Korea and they will think they've seen this exact store in their old neighborhood.
"슈퍼" or "수퍼" is the phonetic spelling of "super," which is a shortened form of the English word "supermarket." This term is often included in the names of these small stores. "상회 (sang-hoe)" is another name for these stores, which means "merchants."
Many old small stores were often housed in small buildings where the owners lived in the back of the store and/or on the upper floor.
Many of them also had postboxes because these stores were located where everyone would pass by. The yellow-colored raised platform is called 평상 (pyeong-sang), which is a traditional Korean wooden platform or bench used for sitting, lying down, or resting outdoors. Neighbors would gather here to snack, drink, or just chat and socialize.
I can't get enough of this. Ginkgo trees are very common in South Korea and they're beautiful in autumn when you walk along yellow-leaf-covered pathways.
And of course, the magnolias in spring. I just want to sit on that 평상 and get a sweet, cheap cup of coffee from that vending machine. Just imagining it gives me peace of mind.
This small store is located right at the entrance to the hillside houses. There is an old barber shop next door.
This is one of the earlier works by the artist before she focused on recording small corner stores. This shows the beautiful traditional bedding of Korea and how families used to keep bowls of rice warm while waiting for their loved ones to come home so they could enjoy the warm rice together.
The artist works with pen and acrylic ink, literally stroke by stroke. See a snippet of her working process in this video.
In 2024, The Guardian featured her art in this article.
Her recent works show that she’s also been traveling and recording small stores outside of Korea. Here’s her work in Japan.
Do you see why I fell for Lee Me Kyeoung’s art? It feels like meditation—but a very sweet one—to look at her pieces and feel what went into creating them. I hope you enjoyed this and check out more of her pieces on her website.
Korean School: 정성 jeong-seong
Fun facts, idioms, translations and history
If I had to pick one word to describe Lee Me Kyeoung's art, it would be 정성 (jeong-seong). It translates to "heartfelt effort" and also implies sincerity, love, care, and devotion. You can feel that Lee Me Kyeoung put so much 정성 into capturing the heart of each store and the people who made that space meaningful.
You might also put 정성 into preparing a meal that's really important. Or you might put 정성 into taking care of your loved ones. Or into creating a piece of art—a song, a dance, a poem, or a drawing. It implies a quality of earnestness and dedication where someone invests their emotional energy and genuine care into an action or relationship. It's what makes something special.
Oh that's a really tender image of the rice in the blankets.
These drawings are so detailed and colorful!