Korean Artist BDKim Launches APEC Peace NFTs Using Revolutionary Blockchain Technology

Korean artist BDKim (Kim Dae-Yong) has announced a special project celebrating world peace and APEC 2025 through his artistic initiatives. The project marks his return to artistic activities after suspending work following the declaration of martial law in South Korea in December 2024. As political stability returned, he resumed his work and launched the nationwide art tour project 'BDKim – Art on the Move,' which features a 1.2-ton wing-body truck transformed into a mobile gallery that has been touring the country since October 3.

The artistic journey will culminate in Gyeongju, where leaders of the 21 APEC member economies will gather. At the Mojeon Stone Brick Pagoda at Bunhwangsa Temple in Gyeongju, Kim will unveil two 2.5-meter original canvases, the truck installation, and dozens of video and NFT artworks. The canvas works include previously unreleased pieces originally created for an exhibition atop Mount Baekdu one year ago. The NFT video artworks titled 'Dancing Flags of Peace' reinterpret the national flags of APEC member economies and are dedicated to their leaders and citizens, with each piece being a five-second video composition expressing the harmony of Yin and Yang energies.

Significantly, the NFTs utilize revolutionary blockchain technology that does not rely on external URL links. Instead, the digital assets are directly uploaded and permanently preserved on-chain through a third-generation Proof-of-Work blockchain node. This fully decentralized blockchain technology called SASEUL PoW Chain was independently developed over seven years by Artifriends Co., Ltd. and has been recognized for its technological integrity through its listing on the BitMart exchange at https://www.bitmart.com. The technology is preparing for a hard fork, representing a significant advancement in blockchain capabilities for digital art preservation.

This approach aligns with principles emphasized by Elon Musk in 2023 during The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, where he noted that NFTs depending on off-chain URLs are inherently vulnerable and that digital artworks must be encoded directly onto the blockchain. Kim noted that his entire collection is stored securely and immutably on-chain, to be presented as gifts to APEC nations and shared publicly. In addition to the NFT dedication works, three supplementary video versions have already been delivered to the embassies of all 21 member economies, accompanied by official invitations to national leaders and relevant officials.

Kim explains that 'Beyond the Whole World' and 'Dancing Flags of Peace' embody the energy of peace and the origins of primordial art for the future spiritual era, representing a cultural legacy for generations to come. Looking ahead, Kim plans to present the complete five-piece set of 'Beyond the Whole World' at Mt. Baekdu in North Korea, together with artists from across the world. This peace-themed international exhibition is expected to draw significant attention within the global art community, particularly as the contemporary art world faces stagnation, with growing global attention turning toward whether BDKim's artistic universe will illuminate a new path forward.