British Museum's 'Korea' exhibition presents country's heritage beyond pop culture

British Museum Unveils Korea Exhibition Highlighting 2,000 Years of Heritage

Exploring Korea's Artistic and Cultural Legacy

By Francesca Halliwell

LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - A new exhibition opening at London's British Museum this week looks beyond Korea's pop culture to explore 2,000 years of the country's artistic and cultural heritage.

Exhibition Overview: From Iron Age to Modern Day

Spanning from the early Iron Age to the present day, the exhibition brings together works dating back to around 400 BC alongside pieces by contemporary Korean artists.

Curator's Perspective

"Most people, especially young people in the UK... know about Korea through its popular culture," curator Sang-ah Kim told Reuters. "They may not know Korea has a long history, over 2,000 years of creativity, resilience and technical skill."

Highlights and Notable Works

The Lee Kun-hee Collection

The exhibition features works from the collection of former Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, who died in 2020, and his family.

Buddhist Art and Goryeo Ceramics

Highlights include statuettes of bodhisattvas and a collection of sutras dating from the centuries following the introduction of Buddhism to Korea, as well as celebrated Goryeo celadon ceramics. Also on display is a piece from South Korean artist Yeesookyung's "Translated Vase" series, a sculpture assembled from shards discarded by potters, illustrating the beauty of imperfection.

Connections to Contemporary Culture

Some exhibits may feel familiar to visitors whose introduction to Korea came through its contemporary cultural exports.

"People, especially young audiences...may get a lovely surprise when they see the 'Tiger and Magpie' or 'Sun, Moon and Five Peaks' if they watched 'KPop Demon Hunters'," Kim said.

Traditional Motifs in Modern Media

The Netflix animated film draws on traditional Korean imagery, with tiger and magpie paintings inspiring the characters Derpy the Tiger and Sussie the Magpie, and the fictional group HUNTR/X performing in front of a digital interpretation of a "Sun, Moon and Five Peaks" folding screen artwork.

Modern and Contemporary Korean Art

More recent works include Suh Do Ho's thread drawing "Self-Portrait," which reflects on ideas of home, migration and belonging, and pieces by Lee Jung-seop, who was separated from his family during the Korean War and etched images into the foil lining of cigarette packets when he could not afford paint or canvas.

Collaboration and Exhibition Details

International Loans and Partnerships

Most of the display's works are on loan from the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.

Dates and Visitor Information

The exhibition will open on Thursday, October 1, and will run until January 31, 2027. 

(Reporting by Francesca Halliwell; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)