The National Museum of Asian Art has announced plans for a groundbreaking exhibition featuring masterpieces from the renowned collection of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, marking the first time these treasures will be displayed in the United States. The ambitious exhibition will showcase more than 200 remarkable items, including a dozen pieces designated as National Treasures, representing one of the most significant cultural exchanges between Korea and America in recent years.

The museum has made significant organizational changes to support this historic exhibition, appointing Sunwoo Huang as the new Curator of Korean Art and Culture in July 2024. Huang is specifically tasked with working on this major loan exhibition featuring works from Lee Kun-hee's family collection, bringing specialized expertise to the presentation of these invaluable Korean cultural artifacts. Her appointment reflects the museum's commitment to properly contextualizing and presenting these extraordinary pieces to American audiences.

The National Museum of Asian Art, part of the Smithsonian Institution, continues to evolve as a cultural institution, with recent coverage describing it as "an institution in flux" while maintaining its significance as a destination worth visiting beyond Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The museum has been actively working to expand its programming and reach, including hosting special events such as performances by K-Pop star Eric Nam and artist Raveena during a two-week festival celebrating the museum's centennial in May 2023.

This upcoming exhibition represents a major milestone in Korean-American cultural diplomacy and art appreciation. Lee Kun-hee's collection, assembled over decades by the Samsung chairman before his passing, includes some of Korea's most precious artistic treasures. The display of these works in Washington, D.C., will provide American audiences with an unprecedented opportunity to experience Korean art and culture at the highest level, while strengthening cultural ties between the two nations through the universal language of artistic excellence.