[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The government will build the 'Lee Kun-hee Donation Hall' in Seoul to separately exhibit cultural assets and artworks donated by the family of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee. The candidate sites for the donation hall have been narrowed down to two locations: Yongsan-gu and Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, next to Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. The government also unveiled an exhibition operation roadmap to honor the donor's spirit and expand the public's access to culture and arts.
On the 7th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the 'National Donation Lee Kun-hee Art Collection Utilization Plan' at the Government Seoul Office. Minister Hwang Hee stated, "To comprehensively hold and manage over 23,000 donated items from the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee and to promote research, exhibitions, and exchanges across fields and eras, a separate donation hall is necessary. To maximize the utilization effect of the donated items, we will establish an organic cooperative system between the new donation hall, the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, opening a new chapter in the operation of national museums and art galleries."
Since April 28, when the family of Chairman Lee donated a total of 23,181 cultural assets and artworks, the Ministry has been operating a separate task force called the 'National Donation Lee Kun-hee Collection Utilization Committee' to prepare utilization plans.
Minister Hwang emphasized, "After more than ten discussions starting from scratch, the committee finalized the establishment of the donation hall."
'Lee Kun-hee Donation Hall' to be decided between Yongsan and Songhyeon-dong
One of the candidate sites for the construction of the 'Lee Kun-hee Donation Hall,' the site in Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The committee selected Yongsan and Songhyeon-dong as the optimal sites for the donation hall. This is because both locations have sufficient conditions for active exchange, cooperation, and synergistic effects with related fields, as the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art are nearby.
Kim Young-na, the committee chairperson and former director of the National Museum of Korea, shared her personal opinion: "If the donation hall is built in Yongsan, a new access road might need to be created. Songhyeon-dong is closer to the city center and near the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, so Songhyeon-dong might be slightly better."
The Ministry explained that no land purchase costs will be incurred for either Yongsan or Songhyeon-dong sites. Yongsan will utilize land owned by the National Museum of Korea, while Songhyeon-dong will proceed using incentives provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Minister Hwang said, "Specific costs have not yet been determined, but only construction costs are expected. We anticipate finalizing the site within this year and will proceed with design and determine detailed costs thereafter."
The donation hall is scheduled to be completed in 2028. A National Museum of Korea official stated, "The donation hall is expected to break ground around 2026, when the basic survey of the Lee Kun-hee collection is completed. Based on this calculation, the donation hall will likely be completed around 2027 or 2028."
Operation based on four principles of the 'Lee Kun-hee Collection'
One of the donated items from the 'Lee Kun-hee Collection,' Park Soo-keun's 'Woman Pounding Grain (1954)'
On the same day, the Ministry unveiled a roadmap for the mid- to long-term utilization of the 'Lee Kun-hee Collection.' The plan will operate under four main principles: ▲Respecting the purpose of national donation and spreading the value of donation to expand public cultural enjoyment opportunities ▲Realizing creativity based on cultural convergence and fusion ▲Expanding cooperation with experts and domestic and international museums ▲Strengthening the image of a cultural powerhouse through the creation of cultural and industrial value.
First, considering Chairman Lee Kun-hee's wish to "share the love for our cultural assets and artworks with the public," a national-level investigation and research on the vast donated items will be promoted. The process will also include clarifying the historical, artistic value and significance of the donated items. Especially, considering the increasing importance of creativity based on cultural convergence and cross-era and cross-field intersections, an integrated management, investigation, and research system will be established to enhance the convergence value of the donated items.
The cultural synergistic effect will also be enhanced through cooperation with experts in various fields and diverse institutions. Utilizing experts from the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, an organic cooperative system will be established to promote projects such as investigation, research, conservation treatment, exhibition, and exchange of the donated items.
‘Lee Kun-hee Collection’ collaborative exhibition opens on the 21st
Large-scale collaborative exhibitions will continue. The National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will simultaneously open the 'National Donation Lee Kun-hee Donation Special Exhibition' starting on the 21st.
The National Museum of Korea will hold the 'Sharing Great Cultural Heritage - The Late Chairman Lee Kun-hee Donation Masterpieces Exhibition' in the second-floor calligraphy and painting room. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will showcase major works through the 'Lee Kun-hee Collection Special Exhibition: Masterpieces of Korean Art' on the first floor of the Seoul branch. On the first anniversary of the donation next April, the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art plan to hold a special exhibition together in one space. At that time, plans to also exhibit collections from Leeum and regional museums and art galleries will be pursued.
From the second half of 2022, more than three regional representative museum and art gallery touring exhibitions will be sequentially promoted annually. Additionally, exhibition exchanges with major overseas museums and art galleries such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Prado Museum in Spain, and the British Museum will be actively pursued.
Minister Hwang Hee expressed, "Once again, I thank the family for deciding to donate. The establishment of the new donation hall will be an opportunity to broaden Korea's cultural horizons and strengthen the brand of a cultural powerhouse."
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