On the 28th (local time) at the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building in Washington, United States. Around 5 p.m. in sub-zero temperatures, Samsung family members including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Samsung Museum of Art Leeum Honorary Director Hong Ra-hee headed one by one to the venue. About 20 Samsung presidents were also present at the event.

They visited Washington to attend a gala dinner held ahead of the closing of the first overseas touring exhibition of the late former Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s donated works, the “Lee Kun-hee (KH) Collection,” titled “Treasures from Korea: Collecting, Cherishing, Sharing.” This large-scale gathering overseas of the Samsung chair’s family and top management is the first such event since Samsung’s “Frankfurt Declaration” in Germany in 1993, when its “New Management” initiative was announced.

The event went beyond a cultural program to promote K-art to the world and became a “stage for private diplomacy” to strengthen global business networks. Around 250 political and business figures from Korea and the United States, including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, gathered in one place.

● “Samsung’s commitment to preserving Korean cultural heritage is steadfast”

In his greeting, Chairman Lee stated, “It is a great honor to be able to present this exhibition here in Washington, the capital of the United States,” adding, “I believe this event will serve as an opportunity for the peoples of the United States and Korea to become closer to one another.” Addressing four U.S. veterans of the Korean War (6·25 War) in attendance, he also expressed gratitude, saying, “Without the sacrifices of American veterans, Korea could not have achieved the prosperity it enjoys today.”

He continued, “Even amid hardships such as the Korean War, Samsung founder Chairman Lee Byung-chul and former Chairman Lee Kun-hee had a steadfast commitment to preserving Korea’s cultural heritage,” emphasizing, “Honorary Director Hong Ra-hee broadened and diversified the scope of the collection from ancient artifacts to modern and contemporary works.” He underscored that the Samsung family’s longstanding efforts across generations to preserve Korean cultural heritage led to the staging of this collection.

The event was attended in large numbers by the Samsung family as well as key political and business figures from Korea and the United States. Wearing a hanbok, Honorary Director Hong proceeded to the venue together with Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun and Samsung Global Research President Kim Jae-yeol. Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin accompanied her son, walking arm in arm.

On the U.S. side, officials from the Donald Trump administration including Secretary of Commerce Lutnick, Secretary of Labor Lory Chavez-DeRemer, and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios were present. From the Republican Party, senior figures such as Senators Ted Cruz and Tim Scott attended, while on the Democratic side, the first Korean American federal senator Andy Kim and Senator Chris Coons visited the event. From the business community, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, Corning Chairman Wendell Weeks, and Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang were in attendance.

As President Trump recently announced plans to raise reciprocal tariffs and automotive tariffs on Korea from 15% to 25%, the mere fact that Secretary Lutnick met together with Chairman Lee and Chairman Chung drew attention.

● Lee Kun-hee Collection to continue in Chicago and London

The gala dinner guests viewed the exhibition and then proceeded to a banquet, where they experienced the refinement of Korea’s cultural heritage and engaged in exchanges. Chairman Lee and Honorary Director Hong introduced to attendees the pride in Korean culture that the former chairman had emphasized, as well as the social contribution philosophy that underpinned the donation of artworks. Attendees were reported to have shown great interest. In April 2021, Chairman Lee and the Samsung family donated more than 23,000 artworks that the former chairman had collected over his lifetime to institutions including the National Museum of Korea.

The special exhibition of the Lee Kun-hee Collection, which opened on November 15 last year at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, was centered on items from the National Museum of Korea’s holdings and donated works, including seven National Treasures of Korea and 15 Treasures of Korea representing Korean culture, such as Jeong Seon’s “Inwang Jesaekdo (After Rain at Mt. Inwang),” the Three Kingdoms period “Gilt-bronze Standing Triad of Bodhisattvas,” and Goryeo celadon.

Within one month of opening, 15,000 people had visited, 25% more than comparable special exhibitions of the same scale. The cumulative number of visitors is estimated to reach 65,000 by the closing on February 1. After concluding its Washington schedule, the exhibition is scheduled to tour the Art Institute of Chicago (March 7–July 5) and the British Museum in London, United Kingdom (September 10–January 10, 2027).

Popular News