You Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, has published two new books aimed at addressing the global gap in understanding Korean art history. The veteran art historian released "Introduction of Korean Art" and "Story of Korean Art" to provide what he calls a "panoptic overview" of Korea's artistic heritage at a time when international interest in Korean culture continues to grow.
According to You, Korean art history remains largely unknown to the wider world despite its significant position within East Asian art alongside China and Japan. He attributes this obscurity to historical circumstances that prevented Korea from developing sufficient scholarship during the formative period of art history as an academic discipline. While world art history began taking shape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Korea was struggling with imperial invasion and Japanese colonial rule, leaving little opportunity to cultivate its own scholarly traditions.
Both books cover similar material but serve different purposes, with "Introduction of Korean Art" specifically designed for international readers. "To help foreigners without prior knowledge of Korean culture easily grasp the country's art history, an entirely different framework was necessary," You wrote in the author's note. Rather than following a strictly chronological approach to Korean history, the book is organized by artistic genres to make it more accessible to readers unfamiliar with Korea's historical timeline.
The 571-page volume is structured with individual chapters devoted to prehistoric art, tomb art, crafts, Buddhist art, ceramics, painting, architecture, and folk art. Throughout the book, You makes frequent comparisons and contrasts with Chinese and Japanese art to illuminate both the shared cultural roots and distinct sensibilities that define Korea's artistic legacy. This comparative approach helps readers more familiar with Chinese and Japanese cultural traditions understand Korean art within a broader East Asian context.
You chose to publish the book in Korean first to help foreigners already living in Korea, those seeking Korean citizenship, and others who can read the language. However, discussions are currently underway for translations into English, Chinese, and Japanese to reach a wider international audience.
The book traces Korean art from the prehistoric era through the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The opening chapter introduces foundational artifacts including prehistoric relics, mural paintings from Goguryeo tombs, ornate gold ornaments from the Silla Kingdom, treasures from Baekje royal tombs, and delicate masterworks of najeonchilgi, or mother-of-pearl lacquerware.
The Buddhist art section explores both sculpture and architecture, covering pagodas, stupas, and sansa (mountain temples) that are uniquely adapted to Korea's rugged landscape. This chapter also highlights the ethereal elegance of Buddhist paintings from the Goryeo and Joseon periods. The ceramics chapter spotlights what You considers the most globally recognized aspect of Korean art: Goryeo celadon, buncheong stoneware, and Joseon white porcelain.
Given the central importance of Joseon-era painting in Korea's artistic heritage, the book provides particularly detailed coverage of its various genres. These include portraiture, landscape painting, genre scenes, bird-and-flower painting, and depictions of sagunja (the Four Gracious Plants). The volume concludes with an examination of Joseon period folk art, crafts, and embroidery—art forms that have been historically overlooked in major narratives of Korean art but reveal the quiet artistry of everyday life.
The timing of these publications coincides with unprecedented global interest in Korean culture. The National Museum of Korea has attracted record crowds, welcoming more than 4 million visitors between January and August alone. This surge in attendance is partially attributed to the success of Netflix's animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters," which blends Korean tradition with contemporary pop culture.
You views his new publications as a response to current cultural demands. "Around the world, there is a growing curiosity about the cultural traditions that form the roots of the Korean Wave," he explained at a press conference marking the books' release. "These were books the times were asking for, and I felt it my responsibility to present a panoptic overview of Korean art history at this particular moment."
You Hong-jun has been a prominent figure in Korean cultural preservation for decades. He gained widespread recognition through his celebrated book series "My Exploration of Cultural Heritage," which began in 1993. From 2004 to 2008, he served as head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, now known as the Korea Heritage Service, before taking his current position at the National Museum of Korea.
