Korean culture has become a familiar presence in American life. K-pop dominates global charts, K-dramas have become staples on streaming platforms, Korean food has moved from specialty shops to neighborhood grocery stores, and K-beauty brands line retail shelves nationwide.
As Korean culture reaches new audiences, Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared traces the artistic traditions that have shaped today’s cultural momentum. The landmark exhibition spans more than 1,500 years of Korean history and brings together over 200 works, including Buddhist sculpture, ceremonial objects, and decorative arts, from the collection of the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee.
The exhibition reflects Lee’s lifelong passion for Korean art, which helped preserve some of the nation’s most significant cultural works. Over decades, he assembled an extraordinary collection, with the belief that art was not only a cultural inheritance but a foundation for creativity and leadership.
Rather than telling Korea’s story through a single period or medium, Korean Treasures showcases the country’s evolving identity through sculpture, ceramics, painting, calligraphy, and decorative arts. Together, the works reveal how craftsmanship and imagination have endured across centuries, informing both historical expression and contemporary creativity.
The exhibition arrives at a moment when interest in Korean culture spans generations. Many Americans first encounter Korea through music, film, or digital platforms, often on their phones. Korean Treasures builds on that curiosity and excitement in a powerful way, connecting contemporary cultural interest to the traditions that have shaped Korean creativity over time.
Inside the galleries, visitors encounter works reflecting ideas about design and functionality that still resonate today. Everyday objects shaped by ritual and daily life reveal a long-standing belief that practicality and aesthetics should work together—a principle that continues to inform how Samsung approaches product development and user experience.
Bringing Korean Treasures to the Smithsonian reflects Samsung’s desire to place artistic heritage at the center of the cultural conversation in the U.S. and beyond. While the company is widely recognized for its leadership in consumer electronics, it has increasingly emphasized cultural engagement as part of its decades-long commitment to American communities, innovation, and education.
At a time when Korean culture commands global attention, Korean Treasures is an invitation to examine the artistic traditions behind this cultural moment. The exhibition highlights how creative values established centuries ago continue to shape contemporary imagery and storytelling.
For Samsung, this kind of engagement aligns with a broader philosophy about its role in society. Sharing cherished artifacts from Lee Kun-hee’s collection with international audiences reflects the company’s belief that progress extends beyond technological advancement to include cultural connection and creative exchange. Following its Washington run, the exhibition’s journey spans Chicago and London, reinforcing the global relevance of Korean art and history.
