The British Museum in London has opened “Korea”, its first major special exhibition of Korean art in more than four decades. Drawn from the celebrated Lee Kun-Hee Collection, the British Museum Korea exhibition brings together 100 masterpieces spanning over two thousand years of Korean art, and runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027.
The exhibition marks the collection’s first European stop after successful presentations in Washington D.C. and Chicago, and is on view at the museum’s Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery.
First major Korean art show at the British Museum in 40 years
It is the British Museum’s first major special presentation of Korean art in more than 40 years, tracing the development of Korean art from ancient times to the modern era. The displays range from ancient gold body ornaments and Buddhist icons to 12th- and 13th-century celadon-glazed stoneware, ink landscapes and contemporary works responding to the turbulence of the twentieth century.
“Korean art has evolved through exchanges with other cultures while developing its own distinct identity,” British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan said. “Visitors will see how that identity was shaped through the country’s engagement with the wider world.”
100 masterpieces from the Lee Kun-Hee Collection
The show is drawn from the National Bequest of the Lee Kun-Hee Collection, which comprises more than 23,000 artworks donated by the family of the late Samsung chairman in 2021. It is jointly organised by the British Museum, the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.
Among the 100 works on display are 10 National Treasures and 13 Treasures of Korea, and more than 20 works are being presented internationally for the first time. These include the National Treasures Bronze Artifacts from Bisan-dong, Daegu, Bronze Rattles and the Celadon Incense Burner with Girin-shaped Lid, as well as modern works by Nam June Paik and Lee Jung-seop.
Opening gala attended by Princess Anne
The exhibition was launched with a gala event on 30 September, attended by around 240 guests from the worlds of culture, business, politics and academia. Britain’s Princess Anne attended a reception ahead of the gala and formally marked the opening of the exhibition.
Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee attended alongside members of the Samsung family, including Hong Ra-hee, director emerita of the Leeum Museum of Art, Hotel Shilla president Lee Boo-jin and Samsung C&T president Lee Seo-hyun.
“For generations, my family has held a guiding principle that art and culture should be preserved and shared,” Jay Y. Lee said. “I hope this exhibition offers a gateway into Korean culture, spanning two thousand years of creativity and heritage, and that it will let everyone see Korea a little differently — for its beauty, its depth and its resilience.”
From Washington and Chicago to London
The collection’s international tour began at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, where it attracted about 80,000 visitors. Its subsequent exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago drew about 115,000 visitors before the tour reached Europe.
British Museum chair George Osborne said the museum was thrilled to host the exhibition: “The Lee family’s contribution to our shared cultural heritage helps us understand and interpret the past, so that we may understand the future.”
The show also provides historical context for modern Korea’s growing global influence at a time when Korean culture continues to gain worldwide popularity. Readers can follow more international stories in the World section on watannews.dk and the English edition.
FAKTA: Key facts about the British Museum Korea exhibition
- Title: “Korea”
- Venue: Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery, the British Museum, London
- Dates: 1 October 2026 – 31 January 2027
- Works: 100 masterpieces spanning more than 2,000 years
- Highlights: 10 National Treasures and 13 Treasures of Korea; more than 20 works shown internationally for the first time
- Organisers: the British Museum, the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
- Source collection: the National Bequest of the Lee Kun-Hee Collection, over 23,000 artworks donated in 2021
- Opening guests: around 240 guests, including Britain’s Princess Anne and Samsung chairman Jay Y. Lee
Conclusion
With 100 works covering two millennia — from Bronze Age artifacts to contemporary art — “Korea” gives London audiences a rare opportunity to explore the full arc of Korean art and culture. After drawing tens of thousands of visitors in Washington and Chicago, the exhibition’s European debut underlines the British Museum’s role as a stage for major international cultural exchanges.
