[Interview] MMCA Offers Art, Intelligence, and Fun... Director Kim Sunghee: "A Second 'Ron Mueck' Exhibition Is Coming"

A Hot Spot for Young People...
An Exhibition Planned to Surpass 'Ron Mueck'
From Strollers to Wheelchairs, a Place for the Whole Family...
Not 'Viewers' but 'Visitors'
Inviting Global Masters of Art...
"Live in Korea... Then Introduce It to the World"
The Original Meaning of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is
'National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art'

"This place is so much fun. There are so many things to buy. Let's hang out here!" Recently, two women in their twenties who visited the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art spoke in excited voices, as if they had discovered a hidden treasure in the city. To them, MMCA was like a cultural complex where they could freely enjoy culture, shopping, and leisure. Even without deep knowledge of art, they could enjoy accessible content, participate in exhibition-linked activities that satisfied their heightened artistic senses and curiosity, and take photos and purchase goods to remember the moment for a long time. The museum perfectly met their needs as both a cultural learning center and a playground.

Kim Sunghui, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, poses after finishing an interview at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 14th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Watching this scene with satisfaction was none other than Kim Sunghee, director of the MMCA. When she took office in September 2023, she pledged to "create a museum that the general public can enjoy," and she has since dedicated herself to lowering the barriers to entry. The joy of the two young visitors was as rewarding to her as her own achievements. Director Kim, who especially enjoys conversations with people, told this reporter on the 14th, "The two women were so lovely, and I was delighted to see them," smiling as she spoke.

A Hot Spot for Young People... An Exhibition Planned to Surpass 'Ron Mueck'

The global status of MMCA is rising day by day alongside the worldwide spread of K-culture. As a result, many prestigious museums around the world are showing interest in MMCA. A common reaction is, "Why are there so many young visitors here?" Unlike in other countries, where the majority of visitors are middle-aged or older, the MMCA's audience is predominantly in their twenties and thirties. The recent solo exhibition of Ron Mueck, which attracted 530,000 visitors over three months, saw 71% of its audience in their twenties and thirties. Director Kim explained, "Young people are a generation highly sensitive to visual experiences. They seem to delight in acquiring knowledge through contemporary art, which is living, breathing, and of our time. Taking beautiful photos is also an important factor, and even when it's crowded, they calmly wait their turn. Visitor etiquette has improved greatly." A new exhibition is being prepared to continue the Ron Mueck phenomenon. Director Kim added, "I can't reveal it yet, but we plan to present an exhibition by a highly talented artist who has not yet been shown in Asia early next year. We expect it to have an even greater impact than the Ron Mueck exhibition."

From Strollers to Wheelchairs, a Place for the Whole Family... Not 'Viewers' but 'Visitors'

The remarkable records set by the Ron Mueck solo exhibition are also evident in the exhibition appreciation education programs. Of the visitors, 430,000 people (80%) participated in these programs, which were linked to the exhibition. This is also a result of Director Kim's consistent emphasis on "communication" since taking office. Sincere about communication between employees and departments, Director Kim regularly talks directly with staff from each department and has insisted on exhibitions that are open to visitors, which led to the creation of these programs. Wondering, "Is there a way to ease the emotions and regrets after viewing an exhibition?" she introduced a poetry-writing program reflecting on one's life, which resonated with visitors. Director Kim said, "Many people were deeply impressed by Ron Mueck, who lives and works like an ordinary person or a monk. There are so many moving poems reflecting on life inspired by this, and we are preparing to publish them as a book soon. I think the term 'visitors' suits these people better than simply calling them 'viewers.'"

Inviting Global Masters of Art... "Live in Korea... Then Introduce It to the World"

The MMCA Research Fellowship Program is a key part of Director Kim's efforts to globalize K-art. This program supports global masters of art in experiencing life in Korea, which can be summed up as: "Come, see, and go tell the world." By staying in Korea for more than six months, they experience the country firsthand and then publish books to introduce the diverse and profound beauty of Korean art to the world. Alexander Alberro, a professor at Barnard College, Columbia University, will visit Korea at the end of this year, and art historian Hal Foster, a professor at Princeton University, is scheduled to visit in 2027. Director Kim emphasized, "The reason Korean Dansaekhwa began to attract global attention was the publication of the book 'Dansaekhwa' in 2014. Hal Foster is someone who established the framework of postmodernism, and the idea is to introduce Korea to the world in their own language. This will likely draw the attention of the global art scene."

The Original Meaning of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is 'National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art'

Kim Sunghee, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, is giving an interview at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 14th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Although the Korean name of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art might suggest that modern art is outside its scope, in reality, the museum actively holds modern art exhibitions, especially at the Deoksugung branch. The English name, MMCA (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), encompasses both modern and contemporary art. For this reason, Director Kim previously proposed changing the Korean name to the "National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art" to clarify that MMCA covers both modern and contemporary art. This is also related to the operation of the so-called "Lee Kunhee Donation Hall," which is scheduled to be built in Songhyeon-dong, Seoul. Director Kim said, "It's close to MMCA, so it's easy to use facilities like parking, and we can fully utilize our storage and personnel pool, making it highly efficient. We can begin operations immediately."

With just over a year left in her term, Director Kim reflected, "Since taking office, I have focused on efficiency and communication to organize the institution, and it has become much more stable. Even if the large ship of MMCA changes course by just 0.1 degrees, over time it will make a big difference." She added, "We aim to become a space where grandparents come holding their grandchildren's hands, a place where the past, present, and future live and breathe together."