The British Museum has announced a new major exhibition on Korean art and culture, titled 'Korea,' in partnership with Samsung. Spanning from 300 BC to the present day, the show will feature over 2,000 years of Korean art and history, drawing on works from the collection of late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-Hee. It includes loans from the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, alongside pieces from the British Museum, showcasing historic national treasures and modern works by artists such as Nam June Paik. The exhibition runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027.
This exhibition is significant as it is the first major show on Korean art and history at the British Museum in more than 40 years, arriving at a time when Korean culture enjoys unprecedented global presence through the Korean Wave (hallyu). It highlights the museum's commitment to broadening its cultural scope and underscores the growing international recognition of Korean artistic heritage, from ancient artifacts to contemporary works.