For Mr. Tongue, this was both a point of excitement and caution, especially in Korea.

“Because it is an imported culture, a lot of the general public lack the knowledge of it. When I talk to people (in Korea), they know it’s from New York and they say it’s through vandalism. Yes, that is all true, but it is also the biggest art movement that is happening all over the world -- there has never been anything quite like this. So I hope that collaborators would not just utilize street art as a temporary commercial appeal for younger generations, but also really dig deep into the significance of both the artists’ work and the street art culture.”

Mr. Tongue added that the respect goes both ways. For international street artists coming to Korea, he hopes they would take time to respect and get to know the depth of Korea’s culture, community, architecture and people.

“There’s a lot of beauty here,” he said.

Street art and hip-hop culture — from New York to Seoul

The style of street art that originated in New York and Philadelphia in the 1960s is believed to have been introduced to South Korea in the early 1990s in tandem with influences of hip-hop culture.

Gatherings in underground tunnels near the Han River by some of Korea’s first-generation graffiti artists such as Vandal, KOMA, Houdini, Santa and Garu soon spread to areas of Seoul like Hongdae, Apgujeong, Sinchon and Itaewon, according to a TimeOut report. However, in 2015, the Korean government stepped up punishments and cracked down to curb the growing number of graffiti works across the country.

For Mr. Tongue, being a street artist in Korea without speaking the language or understanding the culture posed unique hurdles. For street artists, knowing how to hide in the shadows is crucial, however, not only was Korea teeming with surveillance cameras, but being unable to speak or read Korean street signs often slowed him down.

“In one instance, there was a sign saying that it was a construction site, but because I couldn't differentiate on the spot if it was about construction or if it was about some legal issues, I avoided having contact with that area entirely. So it does help if you're able to read Korean a little bit so that you can better navigate the streets while living in Korea.”

• ·Daegu’s iconic opera festival set to attract operagoers with five tragic operas
• ·Team carries out Korea's first successful uterus transplant
• ·KB approves of Yang Jong
• ·Yoon, Japan's Kishida agree to cooperate in hydrogen sector
• ·[Our Museums] Explore cinematic treasures at Korean Film Museum
• ·Team carries out Korea's first successful uterus transplant
• ·First snow of winter falls in Seoul
• ·Everland grounds panda Fubao for trying to escape
• ·[Photo News] AI, conventional painting come together
• ·Suneung difficulty rekindles 'killer question' controversy
• ·SK Telecom CEO shows confidence in AI
• ·SK Telecom CEO shows confidence in AI
• ·[Herald Review] Ive gives a sneak peek of new album, kicks off first world tour with Seoul gigs
• ·PM envisions Busan World Expo's role in sharing 'rise from ashes' experience
• ·EBS' new nature doc to explore symbiotic relationship between nature and humanity
• ·KB approves of Yang Jong