Hu Gun was born in Jindo in South Cholla Province and graduated from Mokpo Business school in 1927. During the years 1930-43 he exhibited regularly in the "Sun" exhibitions in Seoul. His work was shown in the "100 Korean active artists" exhibit in 1973 and in a restrospective exhibition at the Sejong Cultural Center in Seoul in 1980. He won the Korean Cultural prize in 1976 and he became a member of the Ye Sul Won Society in Seoul in 1983.