> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/kim-sou · updated 2026-11-02

# Kim Sou (b. 1919)

## What is Kim Sou’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 160 auction results for Kim Sou at 3 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,712 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,685–$7,750, n=8). The auction record is $88,306 for Composition (2025, K-Auction). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Composition, 1983 | Mixed media on canvas | $88,306 | K-Auction | Mar 2025 |
| 2 | Woman, 1950s | Oil on canvas | $43,384 | K-Auction | Jan 2019 |
| 3 | Untitled | Oil and mixed media on canvas | $8,288 | K-Auction | Apr 2026 |
| 4 | 항구와 얼굴, 1961 | Oil on canvas | $7,570 | K-Auction | Jul 2025 |
| 5 | 무제 | Mixed media on canvas | $5,984 | K-Auction | Feb 2025 |
| 6 | Untitled | Oil and mixed media on canvas | $5,441 | K-Auction | May 2026 |
| 7 | 무제 | Mixed media on canvas | $4,765 | K-Auction | Mar 2025 |
| 8 | Life is Beautiful, 2011 | Mixed media on canvas | $4,448 | K-Auction | Jan 2025 |
| 9 | 인물화, 1980 | Mixed media on canvas | $3,373 | K-Auction | Feb 2026 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 9 | $5,984 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 6 | $6,506 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 160 results from 3 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Kim Sou is a Korean artist with 187 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $7,525. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Kim Sou sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $17,318 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Kim Sou work worth?

Across 160 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kim Sou work is $7,525.

The median Kim Sou painting sells for $26,107 across 59 lots.

The median Kim Sou print sells for $373 across 28 lots.

The median Kim Sou work on paper sells for $4,336 across 18 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Kim Sou paintings typically sell for $19,219–$69,937 (the middle half of 32 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Kim Sou prints typically sell for $225–$484 (the middle half of 22 sold lots).

Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 37 | $373†‡ | $1,186† | 75.7% | 2024-11-21 |
| Paintings | 64 | $26,107†‡ | $413,724‡ | 92.2% | 2026-05-27 |
| Works on Paper | 23 | $4,336†‡ | $16,933‡ | 78.3% | 2025-04-17 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $169,325‡ | $485,366‡ | — | 2017-05-12 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Kim Sou's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (37 lots) median $373 with 75.7% sell-through. Paintings (64 lots) median $26,107, record $413,724. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical Kim Sou painting sells for around 70× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 9 lots) the median is $169,325.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $497–$621†‡ | $548†‡ | $696† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 22 | $225–$484†‡ | $297†‡ | $1,186† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $5,242–$14,311†‡ | $7,323†‡ | $29,503‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 32 | $19,219–$69,937†‡ | $35,018†‡ | $161,673‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $61,034–$255,392†‡ | $112,388†‡ | $413,724‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $479–$6,856†‡ | $1,518†‡ | $14,166‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $2,234–$11,653†‡ | $6,489†‡ | $16,933‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2008 | $413,724‡ |
| Paintings | 2013 | $341,459‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $16,933‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $14,166‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $1,186† |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $828‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Kim Sou worth?

Across 160 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kim Sou work is $7,525. The median Kim Sou painting sells for $26,107 across 59 lots. The median Kim Sou print sells for $373 across 28 lots. The median Kim Sou work on paper sells for $4,336 across 18 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Kim Sou paintings typically sell for $19,219–$69,937 (the middle half of 32 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Kim Sou prints typically sell for $225–$484 (the middle half of 22 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a Kim Sou painting?

Based on 59 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kim Sou painting is $26,107. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Kim Sou's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kim Sou painting is $413,724. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Kim Sou print?

Based on 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kim Sou print is $373. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Kim Sou's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kim Sou print is $1,186. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,186 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Kim Sou work on paper?

Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kim Sou work on paper is $4,336. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Kim Sou's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kim Sou work on paper is $16,933. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a medium Kim Sou painting?

Based on 32 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Kim Sou painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $35,018, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a medium Kim Sou print?

Based on 22 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Kim Sou print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $297, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Kim Sou's auction record?

Kim Sou's auction record is $485,366, set in 2017. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Kim Sou auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/kim-sou (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.