The Metropolitan Museum of Art Reception
for Celebrating the Establishment of the Korea Foundation Curatorship Funds

Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 15:30–17:00
Balcony Lounge

Congratulatory Remarks
Amb. KIM Gheewhan
President of the Korea Foundation

Good afternoon,
I am Gheewhan Kim, president of the Korea Foundation.
It is my real pleasure to come back to NYC and to meet my old friends and colleagues again, particularly at the MET. I am really happy to inaugurate the KF and Samsung Foundation of Culture Curatorship for Korean Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

First of all, I want to extend my sincere appreciation and warmest greetings to MET Director CEO Max Hollein, President Lyu Moon-hyung, Samsung Foundation of Culture, Dr. Mike Hearn, Chair of Asian Art and distinguished participants joining us today.

Back in 1998, the Korea Foundation and the Samsung Foundation of Culture, provided the funds together, for the founding of Arts of Korea Gallery at the MET.
Since then, the MET’s Korea Gallery has become one of the most active venues for introducing Korean art to the United States and global audience, through exhibitions, publications, and educational programs.

Over the past five years, the Korea Foundation and the MET have closely cooperated in raising the endowment for Korean Art curatorship position. I am very happy today to announce its successful completion and inauguration. This is a great step forward together, again, in KF’s 25 years of partnership with the MET as well as with the Samsung Foundation of Culture.

This valuable partnership has been only possible thanks to the MET’s enthusiasm for Korean art and the corresponding dedication of the Samsung Foundation of Art. And my most sincere appreciation and greetings to generous Korea supporters and donors, such as President Michael Kim, Ms. Kyung Ah Park, as well as many distinguished guests present today.

Now I want to say my congratulations on Dr. Eleanor Soo-ah Hyun, the first Korea Foundation and Samsung Foundation of Culture Curator for Korean Art at the MET. I look forward to your vital roles and continued contributions to many memorable Korea-related exhibitions in the future, including the 25th anniversary Exhibition, “Lineages: Korean Art at The Met.”
I want to say thank you again to the leadership at the MET and to all distinguished participants present today for their excellent contributions.

Thank you.