First Lady Kim Jung-sook Finds 'MET' with BTS..."BTS Has Deep Insight into Art" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jung-sook, who is visiting New York with President Moon Jae-in on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly, visited the Korean Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States on the 20th (local time) together with BTS, appointed as future culture ambassadors, Hwang Hee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Cho Yoon-jeung, Director of the New York Korean Cultural Center.

The visit also included Daniel Weiss, CEO of the Metropolitan Museum, Director Max Hollein, and Maxwell Hearn, Chairman of the Department of Asian Art.

Ranked as one of the world's top three art museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, established in New York City in 1870, is the largest art museum in the United States and welcomed over 7 million visitors in 2019. The Korean Gallery opened in 1998 and serves as a forefront base for promoting Korean culture and art to the world.

At the lobby, Kim Jung-sook warmly greeted BTS and said, "The SDG Moment speech and performance this morning were very impressive." Max Hollein, Director of the museum, welcomed BTS by saying, "Thank you for raising awareness of a sustainable future through BTS's SDG Moment speech and performance today."

BTS previously conveyed hope for future generations through their United Nations SDG Moment speech.

At the Korean Gallery, Kim Jung-sook viewed the gilt-bronze Standing Buddha, moon jar, inlaid celadon, Joseon Dynasty rank badges, bird-and-flower folding screens, as well as modern Buncheong ceramics and contemporary women's rank badges. She said, "Various cultural heritages and modern works from Korea, the country of K-Culture, are serving as cultural diplomatic envoys," adding, "I hope the Korean Gallery at the Met becomes a meaningful space that conveys Korea and Korean aesthetics to the world."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The BTS members admired the gilt-bronze Standing Buddha from the Silla period of the Three Kingdoms era, calling it a "favorite work," and mimicked its pose and smile. They showed particular interest in the celadon flute from the Goryeo Dynasty.

In front of the Joseon Dynasty white porcelain moon jar, RM said, "I find charm in the distorted shape of the moon jar," to which Kim Jung-sook explained, "The moon jar is made by joining two hemispheres into one," and added, "BTS has a deep appreciation for various arts."

While viewing the work of artist Yoon Kwang-jo, who uses traditional Buncheong ceramic depiction techniques with abstract forms and patterns, she said, "In the Korean Gallery, where traditional Korean culture and contemporary works coexist, one gains pride in Korean culture."

Meanwhile, after visiting the Korean Gallery, Kim Jung-sook and the Korean delegation including the future culture ambassadors handed over Korean crafts to the Metropolitan Museum officials to be exhibited at the upcoming 'Korean Najeon Chilgi Special Exhibition' scheduled to open in December.

The work 'Osaek Gwangyul (Five-colored Radiance)' by artist Jeong Hae-jo, made by layering traditional Korean hemp fabric with natural lacquer, is held and exhibited at world-renowned institutions such as the British Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK. Hwang Hee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said about this piece, "This work, which contains various colors and expressions, resembles BTS, who have diverse personalities and charms."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In her congratulatory speech at the event, Kim Jung-sook said, "In the Korean Gallery of the museum, various cultural heritages and contemporary works from Korea are serving as cultural diplomatic envoys," and expressed her hope that "the Korean Gallery will continue to be a meaningful space that conveys the beauty of Korean tradition along with the vibrant Hallyu of today to the world."

RM said, "I believe that we are here today thanks to the efforts of many people trying to promote the greatness of Korean culture," adding, "Besides K-pop, K-drama, and K-movie, there are also lesser-known artists working hard," and concluded, "I will work diligently with a sense of mission, believing in the greatness of Korean culture and the potential of K-Culture."