Samsung Partners with British Museum for European Debut of Lee Kun-Hee Art Collection
Samsung Electronics, in collaboration with the British Museum, launched the ‘Korea’ exhibition with a gala event on September 30, 2026. This marks the European stop of the Lee Kun-Hee Collection’s international tour, following its successful showcases in Washington D.C. and Chicago. Notably, this is the first significant presentation of Korean art at the British Museum in over four decades.
The exhibition, open from October 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027, at the Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery, offers a comprehensive narrative of Korean art spanning over two thousand years, highlighting the country’s unique aesthetic and artistic evolution.
Exhibition Overview
The ‘Korea’ exhibition is curated from more than 23,000 artworks bequeathed by the late Lee Kun-Hee to the Korean national institutions in 2021. It is a collaborative effort between the British Museum, the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.
Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee emphasized the family’s dedication to cultural preservation and international sharing of Korean heritage. Lee, alongside family members and dignitaries, attended the gala, reflecting on the importance of cultural heritage as both a legacy and a global narrative.
Event Attendance and Notable Guests
The event was honored by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and attended by prominent UK political figures, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Minister for Artificial Intelligence, and other parliamentary members. Business leaders from companies such as BT Group, Vodafone, and Sainsbury’s, as well as academia and cultural representatives, were present.
Speeches by George Osborne, Chair of the British Museum, and Maurice Lévy, Chairman Emeritus of Publicis Groupe, highlighted the significance of the Lee family’s cultural contributions. Kanishka Narayan, Minister for Artificial Intelligence, and Kim Heung-chong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UK, praised the exhibition for enhancing cultural ties and understanding.
Exhibition Highlights
The exhibition showcases 100 masterpieces, including 10 National Treasures and 13 Treasures of Korea, with more than 20 pieces being unveiled internationally for the first time. Key exhibits include National Treasures like the ‘Bronze Artifacts from Bisan-dong, Daegu,’ and modern works such as Nam June Paik’s ‘Brahms.’
Lee Family’s Cultural Legacy
The Lee Kun-Hee Collection has been instrumental in promoting Korean art globally, beginning with Samsung founder Lee Byung-Chull’s vision. This legacy was expanded by his son, the late Chairman Lee Kun-Hee, and further developed by Director Emerita Hong Ra-Hee. The collection has gained international recognition, significantly boosting Korea’s cultural standing.
The global tour, initiated in November 2025 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, attracted 80,000 visitors, making it the museum’s largest special exhibition in a decade. In Chicago, it drew approximately 115,000 visitors, demonstrating strong interest in Korean culture.
Samsung continues to support the international appreciation of Korean cultural heritage while enhancing its global business network, fostering future growth and innovation.
