The Korea Foundation, a government-affiliated nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting cultural exchange and public diplomacy, is launching an ambitious lecture series that explores the dynamic intersection of Korean art and cutting-edge technology. The program, scheduled to take place throughout November at prestigious institutions across the United States and United Kingdom, aims to strengthen global academic understanding of contemporary Korean culture.
The comprehensive program, officially titled "KF LAB Series: Lectures on Arts and Beyond," will run for one week from November 12 to 19, 2025. The series will visit five renowned academic institutions, offering specialized presentations designed to deepen international engagement with Korea's evolving cultural landscape. The initiative represents the Korea Foundation's ongoing commitment to fostering cross-cultural dialogue and showcasing Korea's contributions to modern art and technology.
The architecture component of the lecture series will focus exclusively on venues in the United States, with three carefully selected presentations. The first lecture will take place at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago on November 12, followed by a presentation at the Korea Society in New York City on November 17. The architecture segment will conclude with lectures at New York University's Institute of Fine Arts on November 18 and 19, providing multiple opportunities for academic engagement in America's cultural capital.
Leading the architecture lectures is Professor Pai Hyung-min from the University of Seoul, a distinguished expert in the field of contemporary Korean architecture. His presentations will provide a comprehensive examination of the historical context and major developments that have shaped Korea's modern and contemporary architectural landscape. Professor Pai brings exceptional credentials to this role, having previously curated the Korean Pavilion at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, which received the prestigious Golden Lion award. He also served as curator for the inaugural Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism in 2017, further establishing his expertise in the field.
The program's art and technology segment will take place exclusively in the United Kingdom, featuring two presentations at leading British universities known for their Korean studies programs. The first lecture will be held at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies on November 12, followed by a presentation at the University of Sheffield's Centre for Korean Studies on November 13. These venues were specifically chosen for their strong academic programs focused on Asian culture and their established connections to Korean scholarship.
The art and technology lectures will be delivered by Lee Jin-joon, an associate professor of culture technology at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Professor Lee's presentations will provide an in-depth exploration of Korea's rapidly evolving landscape of cutting-edge media and digital art, with particular emphasis on how artificial intelligence is being utilized both as creative inspiration and as an artistic medium. His expertise in this emerging field makes him uniquely qualified to discuss the intersection of technology and artistic expression in contemporary Korean culture.
Professor Lee brings impressive credentials and recognition to the lecture series, including his fellowship with the Royal Society of Arts, which acknowledges his contributions to the field of culture technology. He gained significant international attention earlier this year with his groundbreaking experimental space project titled "Good Morning Mr. G-Dragon." This innovative work involved launching an AI-generated video into Earth's orbit, created using iris data and music from the internationally acclaimed K-pop artist G-Dragon. The project exemplifies the type of cutting-edge intersection between technology, popular culture, and artistic expression that Korean creators are pioneering in the digital age.
This lecture series represents a significant effort by the Korea Foundation to showcase Korea's growing influence in both traditional architectural design and innovative digital art forms. By bringing these presentations to prestigious academic institutions across two major English-speaking markets, the foundation aims to foster deeper academic engagement with Korean culture while highlighting the country's unique contributions to contemporary art and technology. The program underscores Korea's position as a leader in cultural innovation and its commitment to sharing these developments with the international academic community.
