Lee Kun-hee Collection Gala Strengthens U.S.-South Korea Ties
Creatrip Team
a month ago
A gala dinner in Washington, D.C., celebrated the successful U.S. opening of the Lee Kun-hee (KH) Collection exhibition, “Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared,” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA). About 270 guests attended, including U.S. officials such as Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo (Howard Rutenbeck was reported), labor and science aides, bipartisan senators, a state governor, and business and cultural leaders. Samsung executives—including Chairman Lee Jae-yong and honorary director Hong Ra-hee—spoke about Lee Kun-hee’s pride in Korean culture and his philanthropic gift of art. Four Korean War (6·25) veterans were honored at the event; Lee thanked U.S. veterans for their sacrifices. The exhibition, described by the Smithsonian as its largest-ever Korean art show spanning 1,500 years, drew roughly 61,000 visitors in two weeks—more than double similar past shows at the museum. After Washington (through Feb 1), the collection will tour Chicago (Mar–Jul 2026) and London (Sep 2026–Jan 2027). (6·25 refers to the Korean War.)
