Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (Director Jongtaek Park) and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (Chairperson Junghee Kim) will co-host a special photo exhibition, A Shared Korean–American Legacy: 800 Days of Restoration, from Thursday, September 4 through Friday, September 26 on the second floor of the Center. The event celebrates the first anniversary of the Old Korean Legation’s inclusion in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Exhibition Overview   On September 9, 2024, the Old Korean Legation was officially added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places—an honor recognizing its historical and cultural significance. Built in the late 19th century, during a pivotal era of Korean diplomacy, the Legation was the first permanent mission Korea established in a Western nation. For over a century, it has stood in the heart of Washington, D.C., serving as a symbolic meeting point of Korean and American history and culture.   The restoration of this historic building began in October 2015 and continued for nearly three years, until it received final completion approval in March 2018. This marked the first on-site collaboration among specialists from Korea and America, covering every stage—from design and construction to conservation and historical recreation. More than a renovation, the project was a cultural endeavor that revived a key chapter in both nations’ shared diplomatic history, creating a bridge between the past, present, and future.   Throughout the process, photographer Oh Hyangsuk immersed herself in the worksite, producing over 120,000 images that document the restoration in meticulous detail. The exhibition features more than 70 carefully selected photographs, capturing the moment each beam and brick was placed, as well as the dedication and craftsmanship of the people involved.   Praised by U.S. preservation experts for its exceptional quality, the restoration played a central role in the Legation’s addition to the National Register—an acknowledgment of its historical significance and the excellence of its conservation. Through photographs, videos, and personal stories, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the meaning of restoration and the enduring power of cultural heritage. About the Artist (Oh Hyangsuk)   Oh Hyangsuk is a visual artist and street documentary photographer whose work captures the realities of contemporary society and their cultural foundations. Working across cities around the world, she has presented her distinctive perspective through solo exhibitions in Germany, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.   One of her most notable works, the Old Korean Legation Restoration Series, documents in meticulous detail the dismantling and restoration of the Legation building in Logan Circle, Washington, D.C., over a period of nearly three years from October 2015 to March 2018. This body of work faithfully records the technical processes of architectural restoration while offering an in-depth portrayal of the challenges faced—and overcome—by the construction workers and artisans on site.   Oh’s photography goes beyond simple documentation, focusing on visually narrating the intertwined stories of people, spaces, and the passage of time within them. (www.ohyangsuk.com)   About the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation   Established in July 2012 under the Korea Heritage Service, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation is dedicated to the research, repatriation, and promotion of Korean cultural heritage located abroad. The Foundation aims to reintroduce the significance of Korean heritage dispersed worldwide, transforming it into a shared cultural asset for both the Korean people and the international community.   The Foundation works closely with local experts, institutions, and organizations, fostering robust international cooperation. It operates overseas offices in Washington, D.C., Tokyo, and Paris, carrying out research, excavation, exhibitions, and academic programs. In Washington D.C., its U.S. Office also manages and operates the Old Korean Legation Museum, a landmark in the diplomatic history of Korea and the United States. (www.overseaschf.or.kr)   Special Programs During the exhibition, the Old Korean Legation will host two Evening Open Houses: ￭ Thursday, September 11 – Guided tour in Korean ￭ Thursday, September 18 – Guided tour in English Evening tours, held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., provide a rare opportunity to experience the fully restored Legation in person, complementing the photographic record on display. Guests will also hear behind-the-scenes stories from the restoration project.   * Evening Open Houses at the Old Korean Legation ￭ Registration in person at the exhibition venue ￭ Twenty visitors will be selected by lottery for each tour (9/11, 9/18)  

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. is proud to present Patchwork of Elsewhere, a new exhibition of works by Gina Bae, Timothy Hyunsoo Lee, Sookkyung Park, and Yu-Ching Wang that deconstructs and attempts to redefine the familiar notions of home and belonging. In a world characterized by fluidity and change where constants seem persistently elusive, the idea of home often drifts somewhere between memory and reality. Home can be both a structure we inhabit and a feeling we chase—something defined not only by walls and roofs but by a disparate assemblage of language, culture, past lives, and imagined futures. Patchwork of Elsewhere traces this intangible architecture of what makes a mere place truly a home—or not. For many, fond memories of home can also be a source of discomfort when coupled with displacement, longing, or mere provisional belonging. Family, like home, can also be defined in either physical or psychological terms, and the absence of either can be keenly felt. This exhibition investigates these issues within the ever-shifting context of human migration, adaptation, and cultural hybridity in an attempt to redefine a sense of belonging. Artists Gina Bae, Timothy Hyunsoo Lee, Sookkyung Park, and Yu-Ching Wang represent a constellation of creative styles that powerfully evoke the condition of being elsewhere—apart from home and belonging. Each artist, shaped by their cultural background and personal narrative, shares a portrait of life lived in between homes, cultures, and feelings of belonging. Such experiences are both deeply challenging and yet generative of new possibilities. Exhibition Dates On View: July 3 – August 22, 2025 Opening Reception: Thursday, July 3, at 6:00 p.m.  ArtWalk Dupont: Friday, August 1, 6:00–8:00 p.m. (No RSVP required) About the Artists & Exhibition Gina Bae’s paintings weave together traditional Korean folk motifs with speculative, figurative landscapes, creating visual spaces where the stories of two generations—hers and that of her first-generation immigrant parents—overlap as both familiar and unfamiliar snapshots. She experiments with fusing the traditional Korean minhwa art style and her experience growing up as a second-generation Korean American, affording herself a fluid definition of cultural heritage. Timothy Hyunsoo Lee deconstructs bodily and emotional terrain, visualizing the dissonant paths of immigration and queer embodiment. His work explores the rituals, anxieties, and material memories of navigating between cultures while seeking a home within a politicized and ever-shifting body. Sookkyung Park crafts delicate paper sculptures inspired by the overlapping eaves of traditional Korean hanok architecture but which carry multiple layers of meaning. Her work reinterprets both the structural designs and the tactile memory inherent in hanji, Korean traditional paper, as a means of revisiting personal histories of home, memory, and migration. Through meditative acts of folding and layering, she transforms paper into vessels of remembrance, connecting past and present across geographies. Yu-Ching Wang conducts documentary research into the urban presence of migrant communities, presenting poetic yet grounded reflections on how people claim spaces and visibility in their own unique ways in once unfamiliar cities. Patchwork of Elsewhere gathers together these disparate artistic practices with intentionality to form a single collective from distinct fragments of human experience. Rather than striving for a resolution to these challenges, the exhibition embraces the dissonance of being “elsewhere” and reframes incompleteness as a viable alternative to a singular, stable notion of home. In seeking out new ways to belong, even temporarily, Bae, Lee, Park, and Wang collectively create an ephemeral landscape where viewers might even encounter echoes of their own untold stories and unresolved feelings among the fragments of others. All those who have ever felt at home, adrift, or anywhere in between are invited to step into this artistic space that celebrates fluidity over permanence, connection over ownership, and placemaking over rootedness. The opening reception will take place on Thursday, July 3, at 6:00 p.m., featuring an Artist Talk with the participating artists. To attend the opening event, please RSVP via the link below. RSVP Link for the Opening Reception  Selected Artwork Details 배지나 Gina Bae I Am a Fairy and Everything Is Run by Woodcutter Fantasies 2024 Oil on canvas, 48” x 36” 이현수 Timothy Hyunsoo Lee TrueView (Overexposed) 2023 Cyanotype on fabric, 48" x 60" each 박숙경 Sookkyung Park The Sun 2023 Folded Paper, Acrylic & Spray Paint, 31” x 31” x 8” (H) 왕유칭 Yu-Ching Wang Pigeonese  2022 Video and performative action, single-channel, color, with sound, video duration: 15 min. 35 sec.

Join us for The New Beginnings: Golden Jubilee of the Han-Mee Artists Association of Greater Washington, an exhibition of diverse works of art celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Han-Mee Artists Association of Greater Washington (HMAAGW) organization in 1975, on view May 15 through June 20, 2025.   Co-hosted by HMAAGW and the KCCDC, this commemorative exhibition honors five decades of artistic practice, cultural heritage, and the spirit of community among Korean-American artists from throughout the Washington, D.C. region.   The New Beginnings offers more than a mere retrospective. Featuring works by 48 artists spanning several generations, from founding members to HMAAGW’s emerging young artists, the exhibition reflects on real experiences of migration history, personal memory, individual transformation, and future renewal. Together, these artists navigate the duality of identity in a shifting world and advance HMAAGW’s commitment to cultural dialogue and artistic progress.   Founded in 1975 by a group of first-generation Korean immigrant artists, HMAAGW has served as a primal platform for creative discourse and cross-cultural exchange between Korea and the United States. Through a wide range of media—including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and digital art—HMAAGW artist have explored the evolution of Korean American identity across generations and the unvarnished experiences of the Korean diaspora, fueling the regional art scene with unique and dynamic perspectives.   This exhibition marks both a milestone and a new chapter for HMAAGW. Serving as a moment of reflection and renewal, The New Beginnings aims to solidify the organization’s historical legacy while also presenting a future vision rooted in connection, creativity, and continued exchange between cultures and generations.   The public is invited to join in celebrating this remarkable milestone in Korean American art history. The New Beginnings offers a rare opportunity to experience the diversity of Korean-American artistic voices that both reflect on the past and imagine the future, while bearing witness to the enduring strength of community, creativity, and cultural exchange.   The New Beginnings will remain on view at the KCCDC during regular visitor hours from Thursday, May 15 through Friday, June 20, 2025. For extended evening hours, visit during ArtWalk Dupont’s First Friday community event on Friday, June 6 (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.). Additional exhibition details and related events will be made available on the KCCDC website as they are announced.   About the Han-Mee Artists Association of Greater Washington   The Han-Mee Artists Association of Greater Washington (HMAAGW) is comprised of Korean American artists who have immigrated to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area throughout the past half century. In 1975, 15 artists living in the region founded HMAAGW as an organization to benefit artists with Korean heritage and to exhibit their unique works, fostering mutual encouragement as they pursued their passion for art together.   HMAAGW members have exhibited their work through individual and group exhibitions in various museums and galleries across the Washington, D.C. area as well as in international locations for 50 years. Such venues include the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C., Baltimore Art Center, Historical Society of Washington D.C., Maryland Hall, and Harmony Hall Regional Center. Works of some members are held in permanent collections at various museums.   Members are inspired to showcase their limitless visions, commitment, and individual creativity in order to share the spirit and culture of Korean Americans living in the United States Capital region. HMAAGW strives to pass on Korean cultural heritage to future generations, to enrich the community with cultural diversity, and to increase awareness of Korean American culture within the metropolitan region. For more information, visit www.hmaagw.org. Selected Artwork Details Komelia H. Okim Promenade in the Forest 2023-2024 Wall relief. Digital printing on Fabric, Silver figures, plexiglass cover 38 x 22 X 5.3 in. Jinchul Kim Sequoia 2019 Oil on canvas 24 x 30 in. Tae D Kim-James  Bellona Excavated: A Fictional Archaeology of Power and Identity 2025 Three-Dimensional Composition; Biobased Plastic, Personal Object 31 x 20 x 13 in. Jinsoon Oh  Gaia – Psyche 2024 Cone 6 stoneware 17 x 8 x 6 in. Yoonsun Lim Eve's Chat 2024 Clay & Glaze, five units 18 x 26 x 25 in. Sunhee Kim Jung Unseen on Eyes 9 2025 Oil on canvas   48 x 24 in. 

We are excited to introduce the newly established traditional market display in the Media Room on the first floor of the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. The wall features scenes from Seoul's Gwangjang Market and Bupyeong Kkangtong Market, along with iconic Korean street foods such as tteokbokki and various Korean side dishes. Visitors are also welcome to freely try on a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) during their visit to the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C..

Join us for Unfolding Koreanness: Exploring Identity in the Age of Migration, a special group exhibition by Georgia-based guest curator Sang Dae Lee, winner of the KCCDC Open Call for Artists, exploring what it means to be Korean through the multidisciplinary practices of six featured artists. The exhibition kicks off with a public opening reception and talk on March 14 featuring curator Sang Dae Lee and featured artist Robert J. Fouser in person.   In a world where migration is increasingly shaped by personal choice rather than economic or political forces, questions of identity and belonging have taken on new urgency. People are not only moving across borders but also navigating the complexities of settling into new cultural contexts, further blurring transnational boundaries. Drawing on Kurt Lewin’s Field Theory and Erik Erikson’s perspectives on identity formation, Unfolding Koreanness investigates the ongoing struggles and negotiations inherent in reconciling one’s origins with the realities of a new environment.   The exhibition features six distinct artists from across the United States: Gayageum musician Hwayoung Shon, media artist Inhye Lee, documentary filmmaker Miriam Kim, linguist and photographer Robert J. Fouser, architect Sung Goo Yang, and textile artist Wonju Seo. Each offers a unique interpretation of Koreanness, reflecting on their personal and collective journeys. Key works include an installation utilizing components of the traditional Gayageum zither, textile art reinterpreting traditional Hanbok clothing and Jogakbo patchwork crafts, and a documentary film on belonging and memory.   Through these six individuals’ diverse works, Unfolding Koreanness moves beyond static definitions of identity, instead fostering empathy and shared understanding within the Korean diaspora and beyond. It incorporates personal narratives, collective histories, and cross-cultural dialogues as a multidisciplinary showcase to reimagine what it means to belong in an increasingly fluid and interconnected world.   This exhibition traces the many experiences of Korean immigrants abroad, exploring how memories of migration, cultural clashes, and shifting values shape their identities in a globalized world. It aims to provide deeper cultural insight not only into the expanding Korean diaspora but also spaces infused with traces of Korean heritage. Join us to uncover and reconnect the evolving tapestry of identity that derives from migration and discover how stories of the Korean immigrant experience can inspire deeper conversations about culture, memory, and our place in a transnational society.   Unfolding Koreanness remains on view from Friday, March 14 through Saturday, May 3, 2025, with a public opening reception and talk featuring curator Sang Dae Lee and featured artist Robert J. Fouser in person on Friday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. (RSVP required, below). Join additional celebrations of the exhibition during ArtWalk Dupont’s First Friday community event on April 4 (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.) and Passport DC’s Around the World Embassy Tour open house on Saturday, May 3 (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).   Unfolding Koreanness: Exploring Identity in the Age of Migration March 14 – May 03, 2025 Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. On View: March 14 – May 03, 2025 (M-F, 10 AM – noon & 1-5 PM) Opening Reception & Talk: Friday, March 14, 2025 (6 PM, RSVP below) ArtWalk Dupont Hours: Friday, April 4, 2025 (6 – 8 PM, no RSVP required)                    Passport DC Weekend Hours: Saturday, May 3, 2025 (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., no RSVP required) OPENING RECEPTION RSVP LINK Wonju Seo Map Drawing Textiles, 2024 Inhye Lee Mapping the Literary Geography of Sonagi Data Visualization   About the Curator   Sang Dae Lee is a curator, practitioner, and educator, leading UNITEDLAB Associates, a cross-disciplinary design studio he founded in 2006. With a philosophy rooted in integrating architecture with humanism, society, and nature, his work prioritizes social, environmental, and economic sustainability. Before establishing his studio, he gained 17 years of experience at renowned firms in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York, collaborating with architects like Charles Moore, Arthur Gensler, Moshe Safdie, and I.M. Pei. His projects have received accolades such as AIA Design Awards and ASLA Professional Awards. Currently an Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University, he previously taught at Auburn University. He holds a Master of Architecture from SCI-Arc and a Bachelor of Engineering in Architecture from Kookmin University in Seoul.   About the Artists   Hwayoung Shon, a South Korea-born gayageum virtuoso and composer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, is dedicated to preserving and sharing Korea’s cultural heritage globally. Since her public debut on KBS in 1986 and following success in national Gugak (traditional music) competitions, she has earned numerous accolades, including recognition at Seoul National University. Shon has collaborated with K-pop stars, jazz and world musicians, and classical orchestras, seamlessly blending tradition with modernity. Her performances have graced renowned venues like the Herbst Theatre, Seoul Arts Center, and KBS Hall and have been featured on platforms such as KBS, BBC, and WGVU-FM. Through her music, she fosters cultural understanding and connection.   Inhye Lee Inhye Lee is a media artist exploring images, sound, interactivity, and data to connect scattered inspirations, uncover missing links, and spark imagination through technology. She holds a BA in Anthropology from Seoul National University, an MPS in Interactive Arts from NYU, and an MS in Data Visualization from Parsons School of Design.   Miriam Kim Miriam Kim is a Korean-Brazilian filmmaker and film editor with a background in painting, exploring themes of identity, memory, and belonging. Born and raised in São Paulo, she moved to New York to study Comparative Literature and Visual Arts at Columbia University before earning an MFA in Film Production from USC. She has lived in Los Angeles for the past twenty years with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.   Robert J. Fouser Robert J. Fouser, an independent scholar and photographer based in Providence, Rhode Island, specializes in linguistics, literature, and photography. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from Trinity College Dublin, with studies in Korean at Seoul National University. He taught applied linguistics in Japan and Korean language education at Seoul National University. Fouser has authored and translated several books on Korean literature, architecture, and urban preservation. His photography has been featured in exhibitions in Seoul, Kyoto, Incheon, and Busan, and he has curated community photography projects in Korea.   Sung Goo Yang Architect Sung Goo Yang explores the possibilities of space through diverse methodologies, from traditional architecture to AI and socio-cultural analysis, enhancing spatial value based on user experience. He studied Architectural Engineering at Korea University and earned a master’s degree from Harvard. As the founder of Ether Ship in Seoul and an AIA member, his major projects include the New City Hall of Suncheon (set for completion in 2026). His work has earned recognition such as the New York Young Architects Award, Korea’s Next Generation Design Leader, and the UK’s Best International Architectural Practice.   Wonju Seo Wonju Seo is a Korean American textile artist inspired by antique Jogakbo (Korean patchwork wrapping cloth), reinterpreting its geometric forms with a contemporary style. Born and raised in Seoul, she earned a BFA in Fine Arts Painting from Hong-Ik University and worked in package and textile design before moving to the U.S. in 1998. Her work explores women's lives and Korean Bojagi textile culture. She currently lives and works in New Jersey and Florida.