U.S. Debut of Asian Art Masterpieces from the Collection of Ex-Samsung Chief Lee Kun-Hee at the National Museum
The National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) is set to host an unparalleled exhibition titled "Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared," featuring more than 200 works selected from the Lee Kun-Hee Collection. This extensive collection, spanning over seven decades, was donated to the Republic of Korea by Lee's family in 2021.
The selection process for the exhibition was a challenging task due to the massive inventory of the collection. Choosing from Lee Kun-Hee's collection for 'Korean Treasures' was no easy feat, given the wealth and diversity of the collection.
The exhibition, co-organized by the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC), the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Korea, will showcase a broad range of items, including ancient Buddhist sculptures, ceramics, paintings, furnishings, and modern masterpieces. Many items being exhibited in the US for the first time will be part of 'Korean Treasures'.
The Lee Kun-Hee collection's detailed selection for the exhibition is accessible via the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea’s online collection portal, which features the Lee Kun-Hee Collection. While a dedicated standalone URL for an exclusive Lee Kun-Hee collection catalog separate from MMCA’s portal was not found in the search results, the MMCA's online collection portal is the closest authoritative and publicly accessible resource to explore the collection’s details.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is the masterpiece Clearing after Rain on Mount Inwang (1751) by Jeong Seon, one of the largest paintings from the Joseon period. Another significant piece is Episodes from the Life of Buddha Shakyamuni as Reflections of the Moon(Worin seokbo), Vol. 11, a book of woodblock prints from 1459 compiled and edited by King Sejo (1417-1468). This work from the early Joseon period features Chinese characters and Korean ones next to each other.
The exhibition will also feature the six-panel folding screen Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks, which was placed behind the royal throne during the Joseon Dynasty and is prominently displayed in the hit Netflix movie KPop Demon Hunters. The popularity of the film has led to an increase in visitors to the NMAA.
The NMAA has a pre-existing relationship with the National Museum of Korea after an exhibition on Korean roof tiles in 2022. Nine items on loan from the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul will be shown exclusively at the NMAA.
The 'Korean Treasures' exhibition will be on view at the NMAA from November 8 through February 1, 2026. Visitors can explore the collection's details by visiting the MMCA website and searching for the Lee Kun-Hee Collection section.
References: 1. Art Institute of Chicago 2. National Museum of Korea 3. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea 4. Leeum Museum of Art 5. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea’s online collection portal
- The exhibition "Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared" at the National Museum of Asian Art is a collaboration between the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.
- The exhibition features over 200 works from the Lee Kun-Hee Collection, a donation that spans seven decades and was given to the Republic of Korea in 2021.
- The collection includes a diverse range of items, such as ancient Buddhist sculptures, ceramics, paintings, furnishings, and modern masterpieces.
- The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea’s online collection portal is the closest authoritative and publicly accessible resource to explore the details of the Lee Kun-Hee collection.
- One of the highlights of the exhibition is Jeong Seon's Clearing after Rain on Mount Inwang, one of the largest paintings from the Joseon period.
- Visitors can also see the six-panel folding screen Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks, which was prominently displayed in the hit Netflix movie KPop Demon Hunters.
- The "Korean Treasures" exhibition will be on view at the National Museum of Asian Art from November 8 through February 1, 2026, with nine items on loan from the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, and details of the collection can be explored through the MMCA website.
