South Korean actor Youn Yuh-jung viewed the “Korea: 2000 years of creativity” special exhibition at the British Museum on Nov. 11, praising the artworks donated from the private collection of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.
Youn visited the London museum during a packed four-day trip for a Burberry campaign, touring the galleries for roughly an hour with guidance from Korean section curator Kim Sang-a, koreadaily.com reported.
The exhibition is the British Museum's first large-scale South Korean showcase in 42 years, running until Jan. 31 with roughly 180 works spanning 100 items, including 10 national treasures and 13 treasures drawn largely from the Lee Kun-hee collection gifted to the state in 2021.
Experiencing 5,000 years of heritage in London
Youn said that she felt deeply moved seeing historical artifacts presented on an international stage, noting that Western audiences typically associate South Korea with modern popular culture rather than its ancient history.
Youn told koreadaily.com.
She highlighted seeing familiar masterworks alongside lesser-known pieces, pointing specifically to Jeong Seon’s famous landscape painting “Inwangjesukdo” and works by modern painter Paek Nam-soon as highlights of the gallery tour.
The actor observed that crowds of foreign visitors packed the exhibition spaces, noting that staff members traveling with her shared a sense of pride in seeing the ancient heritage draw such high levels of international interest.
Meeting Helena Bonham Carter in London
During her stay in London for the Burberry campaign shoot, Youn met British actor Helena Bonham Carter in an adjacent studio, where Carter approached her to express admiration for her performance in the film “Minari,” koreadaily.com reported.
Youn made history in 2021 by becoming the first South Korean actor to win an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in “Minari.” In September, she earned a nomination for best supporting actress at the 78th Emmy Awards for her work in the second season of the Netflix series “BEEF,” though she did not win.
Now taking a break from active filming projects, Youn emphasized the profound impact of seeing the donated cultural assets displayed inside the London institution.
Youn told koreadaily.com.
Frequently asked questions about the exhibition
When does the Korean special exhibition close at the British Museum?
The exhibition “Korea: 2000 years of creativity” runs through Jan. 31, koreadaily.com reported.
How many items are featured in the London display?
The special exhibition features roughly 180 works across 100 items, including 10 national treasures and 13 treasures drawn from the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the British Museum, according to koreadaily.com.
When did the British Museum last hold a major exhibition on Korea?
The museum last mounted a large-scale exhibition dedicated to South Korea in 1984, making the current showcase the first of its kind in 42 years, koreadaily.com reported.
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