Dr. JEONSUR is a scholar and multidisciplinary artist with three doctoral degrees, widely recognized for his unique ability to blend philosophy, artistic inspiration, and human values into a distinctive worldview known as “Love & Bless.”
He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Korea Entertainment Association and Vice Chairman of STN Broadcasting, and remains active in various fields, including music, visual arts, and business management.
As the CEO of Legend Gallery, he is pioneering the role of an “art-tainer,” bridging the gap between the public and the art world. Through his artistic works and creative direction, he continues to share messages of healing, positivity, and blessing with society.
Your real name is “Jeonseol,” which means “Legend,” and together with your three doctoral degrees, you are now known as “Dr. Legend.” Do you feel that your name has influenced your creative work like a kind of destiny? Also, how have your academic backgrounds provided a logical foundation for your art?
Yes, I often feel that my name is not merely a label, but something closer to a calling. The name “Legend” has always felt like a message urging me not to remain within the ordinary, but to carve out my own path.
At the same time, the rigorous academic training I received throughout my doctoral studies has given my artistic work greater depth and structure. It has guided me toward creating art that is not based solely on sensory expression, but also carries philosophy, logic, and reflection on humanity and society.
For me, art is both a product of inspiration and the outcome of disciplined, critical thought.
You have built a versatile career spanning music, visual arts, business, and planning. When defining yourself, do you place more weight on being a scholar or an artist?
I would not choose between the two. Rather, I would describe myself as both a scholar and an artist.
A scholar is someone who explores essence and truth, while an artist is someone who translates that essence into emotion and resonance. I see myself as a person who transforms thought into creative works, and then extends those works into broader social messages.
For me, scholarship and art do not exist as separate domains. Instead, they coexist and interact. It is precisely through that intersection that my identity as “Dr. Legend” is fully realized.
Working across multiple genres can easily disperse one’s energy. Do you have a personal method or philosophy for integrating different fields, or a special way of managing your energy?
The most important principle is maintaining a single core philosophy across everything I do. Regardless of the field, my overall direction never changes: to deliver hope and blessings to people.
Because of that, whether it is music, visual art, or planning, these fields do not exist separately. They are all connected within one unified brand and worldview.
My key to managing energy is “selective focus.” I do not try to do everything at once. Instead, I prioritize the work that carries the most meaning at each moment.
I also tend to draw energy from people and real-world interaction. For me, stages, exhibitions, and conversations are not exhausting. They are actually moments of recharge.
At the 2026 Pink Art Fair, you gained significant attention as both an artist and the CEO of Legend Gallery under MBN. What was your main curatorial intention in preparing for this fair?
For this Pink Art Fair, my focus was not simply on displaying artworks, but on creating an experience through which visitors could receive comfort and positive energy through art.
I believe that art should not remain confined to complex theoretical discourse. It should be able to reach people’s hearts directly. With that in mind, I carefully considered every element, including the atmosphere of the space, the message within the works, and even the emotional distance between the audience and each piece.
As the CEO of Legend Gallery, my goal was to present an exhibition that balanced accessibility with artistic quality. At the same time, as an artist, I wanted to ensure that my own worldview was clearly and authentically expressed throughout the exhibition.
Your “Love & Bless” series previously achieved the remarkable milestone of selling out every piece. Does this message of blessing continue in your 2026 works as well?
Absolutely. “Love & Bless” is my signature series and the most essential language through which I communicate with the world.
I believe that love and blessing are values that never become outdated, regardless of time or era. In my 2026 works, I aimed to express this message in a deeper and more expanded form.
While my earlier works focused more on immediate emotional resonance and warmth, this new direction incorporates deeper layers of healing, the restoration of relationships, and reflection on existence itself.
Ultimately, my intention is for each artwork to speak to the viewer with a simple yet profound message: “You are already a blessed being.”
In this exhibition, did you introduce any new techniques or distinctive elements that define “Dr. Legend in 2026” compared to your earlier works?
In my 2026 body of work, I focused on a freer yet more densely layered mode of expression. One of the key characteristics is the richer accumulation of color layers, allowing the emotions and energy flowing within the canvas to feel almost alive and in motion.
Compared to my earlier works, there is now a more refined balance between spontaneity and structural precision. In other words, improvisation and composition coexist in a more sophisticated harmony.
Emotionally, the works have become warmer, while formally, they have become more solid and structured. I have always aimed to communicate the same core message, but each year I continue to express it through evolving depth and different artistic languages.
In that sense, I believe “Dr. Legend in 2026” speaks through a more mature and refined artistic language than before.
What is your non-negotiable artistic principle, and where is it reflected in your work?
What I can never compromise on is authenticity within the artwork.
I believe that works created merely for external appeal or to satisfy others cannot endure over time. My art must contain emotions I have personally lived through, along with my own reflections, struggles, and philosophy.
That is why even a single color choice must carry intention, and every flow within the composition must contain my own rhythm and breath.
Audiences are far more perceptive than we often assume. They can sense what is genuine and what is not.
For me, the most important responsibility is to remain consistent in creating works that are unmistakably “Dr. Legend’s own.”
Given your strong academic background, when conceptualizing a work, do you rely more on inspiration, or do you design it through strict calculation and analysis?
I believe both elements always coexist.
Typically, everything begins with inspiration. A certain emotion, image, or even a single sentence may suddenly emerge, and that becomes the seed of a work.
However, in the process of turning that seed into a completed piece, a significant level of analysis and structural design is required. I carefully consider color relationships, compositional balance, and the clarity of the message being delivered.
In that sense, I would describe my creative process as one born at the intersection of emotion and reason, where sensitivity and intellect meet and complete each other.
In modern society, the role of “art-tainers” is becoming increasingly important. What philosophy do you personally practice to lower the barrier between the public and art?
I believe art should not be something understood only by a select few. It should be something anyone can feel.
For that reason, I always choose sincerity over complexity in expression. Instead of explaining art in difficult terms, I focus on delivering it in a way that feels emotionally direct and honest.
Coming closer to the public does not mean lowering the level of art. Rather, it means widening the doorway through which people can experience emotion and meaning.
Through various platforms, such as broadcasting, interviews, exhibitions, and performances, I aim to bring art closer to everyday life.
Ultimately, I hope art is not perceived as something distant or exclusive, but as a living force that helps people endure today and imagine a better tomorrow.
What is the most realistic advice you would give to emerging artists or aspiring multidisciplinary creators who want to follow a path like yours?
The first thing I would emphasize is this: build substance before chasing visibility.
Without genuine competence in at least one field, attempting to work across multiple disciplines becomes unsustainable over time.
Equally important is having your own message. People ultimately remember not only technical skill, but also the worldview behind the individual.
From a practical standpoint, consistency is everything. More important than a single moment of success is the ability to sustain your practice over a long period of time.
Rather than following trends, I believe it is essential to gradually build one’s own texture and identity. In the end, that accumulated time becomes your greatest asset.
If you had to define “Dr. Legend’s worldview” in one word or one sentence, how would you describe it?
I would define my worldview as:
“Art that brings people to life through love and blessing.”
I believe this single sentence contains everything: why I create, why I stand before people, and why I continue to take on new challenges.
For me, art goes beyond self-expression. It is a channel of positive influence directed toward others, and a way of sharing meaning, healing, and hope with the world.
As someone destined, by name and reputation, to remain a “living legend” in the art world, what new challenges do you envision over the next 10 years? Please share your final message.
In the next 10 years, I hope to communicate through art on an even broader stage and with an even wider audience.
Beyond Korea, I aspire for Dr. Legend’s worldview to establish itself as a cultural brand recognized internationally.
I want to expand across exhibitions, performances, broadcasting, education, and digital platforms, demonstrating new possibilities for what art can become in a rapidly changing era.
Above all, I do not wish to be remembered merely as a successful artist. I hope to be remembered as an artist who shared love, blessing, and hope with people through every work and every encounter.
The CEO of KoreaNow personally conducted this exclusive interview.
