Web Technologies and the Evolution of Art Consumption Patterns

Abstract

This study examines how the historical development of web technologies and Korea’s digital transformation have shaped the structure of art consumption, situating the inquiry within broader socio-historical flows and institutional frameworks. The trajectory from the static information delivery of Web 1.0, to the interactive platforms of Web 2.0, to the semantic and relational information sharing of Web 3.0, and finally to the decentralization of Web3, extends beyond a mere technological evolution. In particular, the state-led informatization policies initiated in the wake of the 1997 IMF financial crisis, along with subsequent strategies such as the Digital New Deal, laid the institutional foundation for the digital transformation of the Korean art market. Within this context, the study traces the processes and changes in art consumption that emerged. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative, interpretive approach, drawing upon diverse secondary sources including academic studies, policy documents, news reports, and platform operation records. The findings demonstrate that web technologies have served as a primary driver of comprehensive changes in art—shaping modes of appreciation, systems of distribution, and extending further into assetization and financialization. Today, art consumption has been redefined to move beyond viewing and purchasing, encompassing decentralized experiences and transactions as assets via online platforms. This shift underscores the rise of platform-based relational consumption models and the structural incorporation of art into capital markets. The study’s significance lies in its diachronic analysis of how web technologies have impacted art consumption. Furthermore, by integrating perspectives from the histories of technology, policy, and art, it establishes a foundation for multi-layered inquiry into the transformations of art consumption and institutional frameworks.