An image of the ceremonial Haechi-shaped drum stand that drew attention for its resemblance to the character “Derpy” from the film K-Pop Demon Hunters. (Photo by Colleen Dugan)
SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — A major exhibition of the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee’s art collection has drawn strong early interest in Washington, surpassing 15,000 visitors within its first month, underscoring growing global attention to Korean cultural heritage.
The National Museum of Korea said on Thursday that attendance at “Korean Treasures: Collecting, Cherishing, Sharing,” the first overseas exhibition of the Lee Kun-hee Collection, reached 15,667 visitors as of this week. The show opened on November 15 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art and marks the largest presentation of Korean art in North America in more than four decades.
A view of visitors observing Pyeongsaengdo (Scenes of an Ideal Life). Pyeongsaengdo depicts the most idealized and prosperous life course attainable by a member of the Joseon Confucian elite. It illustrates, in chronological order, the life of a scholar-official who attained high office and enjoyed the Five Blessings (longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a peaceful death), from birth through a long and honored old age. (Photo by Colleen Dugan.)
The exhibition brings together 330 works, including seven national treasures and 15 state-designated treasures, among them “Clearing After Rain on Mount Inwang,” a masterpiece by the late Joseon-era painter Jeong Seon. It also features key works that trace the development of modern Korean art in the 20th century.
Museum officials said the exhibition has attracted sustained interest from local audiences and major media outlets. The Smithsonian noted that visitor numbers are about 25 percent higher than those of comparable past exhibitions at the venue.
Yoo Hong-june, director of the National Museum of Korea, delivers a congratulatory address. Yoo drew public attention earlier in the current administration after declining an offer to serve as minister of culture and tourism and instead proposing to take on the role of museum director. He is also the author of My Cultural Heritage Journey, one of South Korea’s best-selling book series.
Particular attention has been drawn to moon jars and a ceremonial drum stand once used in Buddhist temples, according to curators. The drum stand has gained unexpected popularity after visitors remarked on its resemblance to a character from a recent Netflix animated film, generating word-of-mouth interest across age groups.
Merchandise inspired by the exhibition has also proven popular. Museum officials said items such as celadon-style plate sets and lighting products featuring imagery from “Clearing After Rain on Mount Inwang” sold out within a week, with total sales reaching roughly 100 million won (about $75,000).
A Hanji paper lighting cultural product inspired by Clearing After Rain on Mount Inwang.
An opening reception held in Washington this week was attended by Yoo Hong-june, director of the National Museum of Korea, Kang Kyung-wha, South Korea’s ambassador to the United States, and representatives from the Smithsonian and the Korean Cultural Center in Washington.
“The hope is that people around the world will discover the beauty of Korea’s traditional culture and feel the enduring artistic strength that connects its past and present,” Yoo said.
This composite photo, provided by Samsung Electronics Co., shows some of the 23,000 pieces of art donated by the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.
The Washington exhibition runs through February 1, before traveling to the Art Institute of Chicago from March to July 2026 and the British Museum from September 2026 to January 2027.
Image credit: Yonhap, Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, The National Museum of Korea, The National Museum of Korea Foundation /
