The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington opened its doors on Saturday to unveil a landmark exhibition featuring Korean masterworks from the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee's prestigious art collection. The exhibition, titled "Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared," began one week behind its original schedule due to a temporary closure caused by the recent US federal government shutdown.
This historic exhibition marks the first time that artworks from Lee Kun-hee's renowned collection have traveled outside of Korea for international display. The comprehensive show features approximately 200 carefully selected objects that span Korea's rich artistic heritage from ancient times through the contemporary era. The diverse collection includes court paintings, Buddhist sculptures, Joseon-era ceramics, and modern artworks, offering visitors a comprehensive journey through Korean artistic traditions.
Museum director Chase Robinson praised Lee as "a visionary collector" and described the exhibition as "a rare opportunity to present American audiences with the richness and depth of Korean art." The exhibition represents a significant cultural exchange between Korea and the United States, showcasing the sophisticated artistic achievements of Korean culture to international audiences.
Lee Kun-hee, who was the son of Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul, is widely recognized for his transformative leadership that turned Samsung from a modest electronics manufacturer into a global technology powerhouse during his 27-year tenure as chairman. Beyond his business acumen, Lee was also a passionate and discerning art collector who assembled one of the most significant private collections of Korean art in existence.
Following Lee's death in October 2020, his family made an extraordinary philanthropic gesture by donating over 23,000 artworks to museums throughout South Korea. This remarkable donation included 107 pieces that have been officially designated as national treasures by the Korean government. Since the donation, these invaluable works have been exhibited at museums across the country, with the most recent major showcase occurring last year when 10 regional museums began displaying over 2,000 artifacts from the collection.
The Washington exhibition features several exceptional standout pieces that highlight the collection's extraordinary quality. Among the most notable works is the National Treasure "Inwang jesaekdo" by renowned Joseon-era artist Jeong Seon, a masterful landscape painting that beautifully captures Seoul's Inwangsan mountain after rainfall. The exhibition also showcases exquisite blue-and-white porcelain vessels that demonstrate the technical mastery of Korean ceramicists, as well as traditional bookshelf paintings known as chaekgado, which represent a unique genre of Korean art.
The exhibition was organized through a collaborative partnership with several prestigious Korean institutions, including the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, and the Leeum Museum of Art. This international cooperation demonstrates the significant cultural importance of the collection and the commitment to sharing Korean artistic heritage with global audiences.
The exhibition will remain on display at the Smithsonian through February 1, 2026, providing visitors with an extended opportunity to experience these Korean treasures. After its successful run in Washington, the exhibition is scheduled to travel to Chicago and London, further expanding international access to Lee Kun-hee's remarkable collection and promoting greater understanding of Korean art and culture worldwide.
