Resigned as Director Due to the 2017 State Affairs Scandal
Returns as Honorary Director After 8 Years
Hong Ra-hee (80), wife of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, has returned as the Honorary Director of the Leeum Museum of Art. This marks her return to the position after stepping down 8 years ago in 2017.
Hong Ra-hee, Honorary Director of the Leeum, attended the inauguration ceremony of the new Vice President of the Korean Red Cross in 2023. Photo by Yonhap News
The Samsung Foundation of Culture announced that, in celebration of its 60th anniversary, it has appointed former Leeum Museum Director Hong Ra-hee as Honorary Director of Leeum, coinciding with the opening of the Hoam Art Museum special exhibition "Gyeomjae Jeong Seon." "Gyeomjae Jeong Seon" is a large-scale exhibition showcasing the artistic world of Gyeomjae Jeong Seon (1676?1759), a master painter of Joseon-era art, co-organized by the Samsung Foundation of Culture and the Kansong Art and Culture Foundation. Hong, the Honorary Director, appeared at the exhibition opening ceremony held on the 31st and expressed her enthusiasm during the subsequent dinner, thanking attendees for their support and pledging to work even harder.
Hong Ra-hee, a graduate of Seoul National University’s Department of Applied Arts, has been regarded as a prominent figure in the Korean art world. She has been listed annually among the world’s top 200 collectors by the global art media outlet Artnet. Known for her exceptional eye for art, it is said that late Chairman Lee Kun-hee consulted her advice when collecting artworks.
Hong stepped down from her director position in 2017 following the so-called "state affairs manipulation" scandal, which led to the imprisonment of then Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Since then, the Leeum Museum has remained without a director for eight years, with her daughter Lee Seo-hyun, Chairwoman of Leeum’s Operating Committee, overseeing the museum.
With Hong Ra-hee’s return, the Leeum Museum of Art is expected to gain renewed vitality. Although appointed as Honorary Director, it is widely viewed as a de facto return to the director role, bringing her back to the forefront. An art industry insider commented, "Unlike typical honorary directors who keep a distance from day-to-day operations, this is essentially a full-fledged return," adding, "It is expected to bring new energy to the stagnant domestic art market."
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