'Korean Treasures' Exhibition from Lee Kun-hee Collection Opens in Washington, D.C.
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
The first stop of the international tour of the late Lee Kun-hee’s donated collection, 'Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared,' opened on March 15 at the National Museum of Asian Art (Smithsonian) in Washington, D.C. The opening was briefly delayed by a U.S. federal government shutdown but proceeded after services resumed. The show brings 297 items—including seven national treasures and 15 treasures—spanning Korean art from the Three Kingdoms to the 20th century, and features 24 modern and contemporary works from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) by masters like Park Soo-keun, Lee Ungno, and Kim Whanki. Ten thematic sections trace royal, Buddhist, and scholarly traditions, ceramics from Goryeo celadon to Joseon white-and-blue porcelain, and the evolution of painting. The exhibition includes related merchandise (e.g., fans, keyrings, miniature Buddhas) and will travel next to the Art Institute of Chicago and then the British Museum in London. Organizers hope the show will share Korean cultural creativity and history with global audiences.
