Smithsonian to Unveil Groundbreaking Exhibition of Korean Art Treasures

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art is set to unveil "Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared," the first U.S. exhibition showcasing masterpieces from the renowned Lee Kun-Hee Collection. Originally scheduled to open on November 8, 2025, the exhibition was postponed due to a federal government shutdown but is now slated to open on November 15, 2025.

This unprecedented exhibition features over 200 works spanning 1,500 years of Korean art, including ancient Buddhist sculptures, ceramics, paintings, furnishings, and modern masterpieces of the 20th century. Notably, it includes a dozen National Treasures designated by the Korean government, such as Jeong Seon's "Inwang Jesaekdo" (Rain Clearing over Inwang Mountain). The exhibition marks the first time these masterpieces are being displayed in the United States.

The Lee Kun-Hee Collection comprises more than 23,000 works donated to the Republic of Korea in 2021 by the family of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee. This exhibition marks the first time these masterpieces are being displayed in the United States.

Following its premiere in Washington, D.C., the exhibition will travel to the Art Institute of Chicago (March 7–July 5, 2026) and later to the British Museum in London.

The exhibition is co-organized by the National Museum of Asian Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. It is made possible by a multiyear grant from the National Museum of Korea's Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program.

This exhibition represents a significant cultural exchange, offering American audiences a rare opportunity to experience Korea's rich artistic heritage. It underscores the importance of international collaboration in the arts and highlights the role of private collections in preserving and sharing cultural treasures.

"Korean Treasures" is a rare and extraordinary opportunity to share the richness and depth of Korean art with U.S. audiences. From Buddhist sculpture of the Three Kingdoms period to Joseon dynasty furnishings created for the studies of the scholar-gentry and bold 20th-century paintings, these works span centuries of innovation and creativity. Lee Kun-Hee was a visionary collector, and the gift made by his family to Korea stands as one of the most significant in the country's history. As a museum founded through a similar transformative act of generosity, we are honored to share this remarkable story of cultural legacy on the international stage.

The exhibition's thematic arrangement across ten galleries explores various aspects of Korean art and culture. It opens and closes with a reflection on the practice of collecting in Korea, drawing inspiration from the tradition of chaekgado—vibrant painted screens depicting scholarly books and treasured objects. Pioneering artists such as Lee Sangbeom (1897–1972), Park Saengkwang (1904–1985), and Lee Ungno (1904–1989) sought new visual languages by merging Western and Korean concepts and subject matter. By the 1950s, many artists' radical approaches began to redefine Korean painting in a modernizing world.

This exhibition features artworks from the collection generously donated by the family of the late Chairman Lee Kun-Hee. Spanning the Three Kingdoms period to the early 20th century, the selected works illuminate the cultural roots of what is today known globally as K-culture. We hope that audiences, particularly those who are beginning to take an interest in Korean popular culture, may find in this exhibition an opportunity to explore its historical origins and enduring vitality, thus bridging past and present.

The upcoming exhibition in Washington is generating great anticipation through its curatorial vision that bridges tradition with modern and contemporary art, enriched by the collaboration on the timeless Lee Kun-Hee Collection. I believe this exhibition will serve as a meaningful platform to reflect how Korean culture and art, while deeply rooted in tradition, are evolving toward new directions that embrace historical diversity and hybridity.

The Lee family's generous contribution reflects a profound commitment to sharing Korea's cultural heritage with the world. We are honored to present this exhibition, which not only showcases the richness and accomplishments of Korean art, but also serves as a meaningful platform to share Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee and his family's enduring philosophy of social giving with the American public.

Related to the exhibition, a major international symposium dedicated to the topic of collecting Korean objects and paintings is planned for Jan. 22–23, 2026. Distinguished scholars from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Korea will discuss topics including the historical development of collecting in Korea, the rise of the Korean art market, the formation of national collections, and the collecting of Korean art abroad. The exhibition will also be accompanied by a major catalog distributed by Yale University Press in fall 2025.

Following its premiere in Washington, D.C., the exhibition will travel to the Art Institute of Chicago where it will be on view March 7, 2026, through July 5, 2026. Both venues feature a unique curatorial approach, highlighting different selections from the Lee Kun-Hee Collection. The presentation at the National Museum of Asian Art is curated by Keith Wilson, the June and Simon K.C. Li curator of Chinese art; Carol Huh, associate curator of contemporary Asian art; and Sunwoo Hwang, the Korea Foundation assistant curator of Korean art and culture. The lead curator for "Korean Treasures" is Yeonsoo Chee, the Korea Foundation associate curator of Korean art at the Art Institute of Chicago.

This comprehensive overview provides the necessary factual information to craft a detailed and engaging news article on the upcoming exhibition.