Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared

Collecting is a timeless passion—an enduring way to preserve memories, express one’s taste, and safeguard traditions for generations to come.
Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared honors this practice by presenting a remarkable selection of masterpieces generously donated to the Korean nation by the family of Lee Kun-Hee, the late chairman of Samsung Group.

Spanning ancient times to the present, the works featured in this exhibition embody the depth and diversity of Korea’s artistic legacy. Once held in private, these treasures now belong to the public, reflecting the Lee family’s profound commitment to preserving Korea’s cultural heritage and making it accessible to all.

The objects on view were originally created for a range of settings, including royal palaces, Buddhist temples, Confucian academies, scholars’ studios, and modern art spaces. Together, the works trace the evolution of Korean innovation, revealing shifts in style, power, belief, and technology over time. In Korean Treasures, the voices of those who made, used, and collected paintings and objects are displayed through letters, inscriptions, and dedications—offering glimpses into their lives and insights into the meanings these objects held before and now.

After its premiere in Washington, D.C., the exhibition will travel to Chicago and London. Each venue features a unique curatorial approach, highlighting different selections from the Lee Kun-Hee Collection. This exhibition, drawn from the National Bequest of Lee Kun-Hee’s Collection, is organized by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. The presentation of the exhibition at the National Museum of Asian Art is supplemented by loans generously offered by the Leeum Museum of Art.

The National Museum of Asian Art gratefully acknowledges its long-standing partnership with the National Museum of Korea. This exhibition is made possible by this special relationship and a generous multiyear grant awarded through the museum’s Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program.

Samsung is the Presenting Corporate Sponsor of Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared.

Additional support is provided by the Blakemore Foundation.