Hong Gyu Shin, a New York-based gallery owner originally from Ulsan, South Korea, became the first named Korean to purchase a Van Gogh when he acquired *Head of a Peasant* (January-March 1885) at Sotheby’s in May 2024 for $787,000—well below its estimate. The painting has now gone on display at the newly opened KAIST Art Museum (KAM) in Daejeon, South Korea, as part of Shin's exhibition *The Vault of Masterpieces* (until 30 August). The show features 49 works from his personal collection, including a recreation of his New York apartment, and marks the first time a Van Gogh has been exhibited on loan from a Korean collector.
This event is significant because it highlights the growing interest in Van Gogh in South Korea, where no museum owns a Van Gogh painting despite the artist's soaring popularity. Shin's loan not only brings a major Western masterwork to Korean audiences but also underscores the role of private collectors in bridging gaps in institutional holdings. Additionally, the article notes a concurrent Van Gogh exhibition in Daejeon from the Kröller-Müller Museum and plans for the painting to travel to Ulsan Art Museum, further cementing Korea's engagement with Van Gogh's legacy.