British Museum opens exhibition of Lee Kun-hee collection from Korea

The British Museum in London opened a major international exhibition on October 1, 2026, titled Korea: 2000 years of creativity, bringing 100 historical and modern works—including 10 national treasures—to European audiences. The exhibition is built on the extensive collection donated to the South Korean state by the bereaved family of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee. Following previous successful runs in Washington, D.C., in November 2025 and Chicago in March 2026, this third international tour stop marks the first time in 42 years that the British Museum has hosted a dedicated South Korean special exhibition.

Samsung Leadership and Global Dignitaries Attend London Preview

A preview reception and gala dinner on September 30, 2026, drew prominent British royals, government officials, and international corporate leaders to the museum galleries. Princess Anne of the United Kingdom attended the preview alongside British Minister of Finance John Hilli and Artificial Intelligence Minister Kanishka Narayan. Chief executives from major Samsung global partners, including Christophe Fouquet of ASML and Kai Beckmann of Merck, also viewed the galleries.

South Korean attendees included Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Leeum Museum of Art Honorary Director Hong Ra-hee, Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin, Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun, and International Olympic Committee Executive Board Member and International Skating Union President Kim Jae-yul. Our family has maintained a principle across multiple generations that art and culture must be preserved and shared together, Chairman Lee Jae-yong stated at the preview event, according to the article. I hope this exhibition serves as an opportunity to understand South Korea’s 2000-year-old creativity and cultural heritage.

George Osborne, chair of the British Museum trustees, praised the donation in his opening remarks, stating that the family’s dedication to shared human culture helps observers understand the past and acts as a compass for the future. South Korean Ambassador to the United Kingdom Kim Hyoung-jong noted that showcasing two millennia of history carries special significance at a time when Korean culture is receiving global attention.

National Treasures and Modern Art Span Two Millennia

The London exhibition features a broader and more diverse selection of artifacts than the previous North American stops, spanning ancient metalcraft through contemporary painting. Returning highlights from the United States tours include Jeong Seon’s 18th-century landscape Inwangjesaekdo, Kim Hong-do’s Autumn Sound, and Paik Nam-soon’s Paradise. Newly added pieces making their international tour debut include a collection of Bronze Age artifacts from Bisan-dong in Daegu and a set of ancient bronze bells from Deoksan, both designated as national treasures.

Other works on display for the first time on the tour include Lee Jung-seob’s Bound People and a traditional folk painting of magpies and tigers depicting Korean humor and vitality. A 19th-century folding screen of peaks and the sun—similar to imagery featured in popular media—joins modern canvases by Park Soo-keun, Kim Whanki, Lee Jung-seob, and Chang Uc-jin. National Museum of Korea Director Yoo Hong-jun stated that the London presentation offers a comprehensive collection of national treasures, inviting European fans of Korean culture to visit.

British Museum Exhibition Remains Open Until January 2027

The special exhibition remains open to the public at the British Museum through January 31, 2027. Visitors can access the galleries during regular museum operating hours.