Click HERE to RSVP Overview: - K-Food Experience at Asia North: The Art of Kimbap - Date&Time: Friday, May 29, 6:30 - 8:00 PM - Location: Motor House (120 W North Ave, Baltimore, MD) Join us for an engaging evening exploring the art and culture of kimbap with special guest chef and restaurateur Des So. Participants will hear stories about Korean cuisine, Des So’s journey building Korean food businesses in the DC area, enjoy a live kimbap-making demonstration, and take part in a delicious kimbap tasting experience. Small Korean souvenir giveaways will also be available for attendees!   About Asia North: Asia North is an Asian arts and culture festival in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District that celebrates the Charles North–Station North neighborhood’s evolving identity as a Koreatown, arts district, and creative hub. The festival is co-produced by the Asian Arts & Culture Center and the Central Baltimore Partnership.   About the Instructor: Des So (서대석) - Born in Seoul, South Korea; immigrated to the U.S. in 1986 - Studied Film/Video at Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) - Has owned and operated more than 30 restaurants across DC, Maryland, and Virginia since 1992 - Currently operates four restaurants in Washington, DC, including Soho Cafe & Market, Met Cafe the Venue, and Met Cafe Lite @ DOI - Specializes in breakfast & lunch cafeterias, catering, venues, events, and modern Asian & American cuisine   About Kimbap: Kimbap is one of Korea’s most beloved comfort foods, known for its balance of flavors, vibrant presentation, and versatility. Often enjoyed for picnics, travel, and family gatherings, kimbap reflects the creativity and warmth of Korean home-style cooking. Through this program, participants will learn more about Korean food culture, traditional ingredients, and the enduring popularity of this iconic dish.

Explore the evolution of Korean contemporary art!   The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) present two special 30-minute screenings of MMCA curator talks that explore how Korean art developed in the 20th century to become one of the world’s hottest art scenes today.   Inside Korean Art highlights key examples from current exhibitions in Korea and features MMCA expert curators as they outline major trends and changes in the past century of Korean art, from the early twentieth century to the postwar emergence of abstraction and experimental art. Guests can also join an in-person introduction and Q&A with the KCCDC’s own art curator while browsing the contemporary art exhibition Connecting Lines after the screenings.    Presented here for the first time with full English subtitles, the MMCA talks provide valuable context and are a complement to understanding Connecting Lines, currently on view at KCCDC. Each screening is designed to provide a broader picture of the history and development of modern and contemporary Korean art that forms the foundation of these artists’ innovative practices.   Part 1 on May 22 presents a conversation between the curators on MMCA’s permanent exhibition collection, introducing key artists and major artistic movements across different periods from the early 1900s to today. Part 2 on May 29 explores influential post-war Korean artist collectives such as the Modern Art Association (1957–1960), one of the first independent artist groups in Korea which helped shape the abstract visual language of future generations. After each screening, guests are invited to browse Connecting Lines and chat with the curator.   Experience Inside Korean Art and the exhibition Connecting Lines in concert and gain a profound new appreciation for the modern and contemporary art of Korea.   Inside Korean Art: Screening & Curator Talks May 22 & 29 at 6:00 PM (both days) Korean Cultural Center Washington, DC Part 1: Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Korean Art (May 22) | RSVP Part 2: Focus on 1950 – 1960s Korean Art (May 29) | RSVP Timeline (both dates): 6:00 PM: Introduction to Korean Art and Connecting Lines 6:10 PM: Inside Korean Art (screening) 6:40 PM: Connecting Lines exhibition self-guided tour and Q&A   All screenings are presented in Korean with English subtitles. Part 1: Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Korean Art May 22 at 6:00 PM RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! Modern and contemporary Korean art is often divided around the period following the Korean War in the 1950s, and MMCA’s Gwacheon branch has organized its permanent exhibition around the year 1950. This talk by MMCA Curators Yi Soojung and Lee Hyunju discusses both works from before the 1950s, in chronological order, and Korean art post-1950, organized by both historical periods and artistic themes, highlighting the characteristics of different artists and movements. In this screening, two MMCA curators guide viewers through the branch’s exhibition galleries and introduce their overall structure and themes.   Part 2: Focus on 1950 – 1960s Korean Art May 29 at 6:00 PM RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! Korean modern art underwent significant changes following the 1950-53 Korean War, particularly through the emergence of artist collectives formed in the late 1950s and the 1960s. MMCA’s Cheongju branch presents an exhibition exploring these groups, including the Modern Art Association (1957–1960), one of the first independent artist groups in Korea.   The exhibition introduces artists who challenged the realism-centered National Art Exhibition of Korea (Kukjeon) and experimented with abstraction and modernist practices while developing their own distinctive visual language. This talk by MMCA Curator Lee Hyojin will help viewers explore how these artist collectives contributed to the development of Korean abstract art and laid the foundation for future contemporary Korean art.

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) presents A Window into K-Culture: Focus on Korean Literature, a special two-day event organized in collaboration with the National Museum of Korean Literature (NMKL) as part of the global Touring K-Arts program supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE).   Researcher Young-in Seo of the National Museum of Korean Literature will speak in-person about how Korean literature offers the chance to go beyond simply enjoying K-Culture to gaining a deeper understanding of it. By connecting familiar Korean Wave content such as K-dramas and K-Pop with literary traditions, this program explores the cultural narratives and context embedded within contemporary Korean culture.   The first of two sessions focuses on Tradition and the Present in Korean Literature, while the second session examines Contemporary Korean Literature and the Diversity of the Korean Wave.   Each evening presents distinct themes and will introduce notable Korean literary works and authors for curious readers to discover. A curated on-site exhibition of works featured in the lectures will also be available for viewing in both Korean and English, and a special quiz will offer participants the chance to win copies of select books.   Newcomers and avid fans alike are invited to take a deep dive into Korean literature and culture through this special event.   [K-Culture: Explore More, Enjoy More]  A Window into K-Culture: Focus on Korean Literature Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. Session 1: Tradition and the Present in Korean Literature Monday, May 18, 2026, 6:00–7:30 PM Session 2: Contemporary Korean Literature and the Diversity of the Korean Wave Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 6:30–8:00 PM Session 1 (May 18, 6:00–7:30 PM) RSVP LINK Session 2: (May 19, 6:30–8:00 PM) RSVP LINK PLEASE NOTE: participants may attend either one or both sessions, but separate registration is required for each. Free with registration.  Speaker Biography & Featured Exhibited Books    Young-in Seo is a researcher at the National Museum of Korean Literature, where she is engaged in the collection, management, and research of Korean literary materials. She holds a Ph.D. in Korean Literature. Since her literary debut in 2000 through the publisher Changbi (창비), she has worked as a literary critic and has lectured on Korean literature at various universities in Korea. Seo’s published works include collections of literary criticism, essays, and academic research.  

  The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) and the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) invite you to a series of hands-on workshops exploring traditional Korean crafts and cultural practices, presented in partnership with the National Folk Museum of Korea (NFMK). Led by Youngjae Kim, former Senior Curator at the National Folk Museum of Korea, each session offers a unique opportunity to learn about Korean traditions while handling or creating your own handcrafted items including the daenggi (댕기) decorative hair ribbon, jangmyeongru (장명루) five-colored longevity bracelet, and bojagi (보자기) wrapping cloth. Participants will explore traditional materials, embedded symbolism, and crafting techniques through engaging, hands-on activities. This program is supported by and presented in cooperation with the National Folk Museum of Korea.     PLEASE NOTE: An RSVP is required for each session and space is limited. Participants are asked to kindly RSVP for only one session (at either the KCCDC or NMAA) to maximize overall participation. Two additional sessions on May 26 and 27 are by invitation only and not listed below.    Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. 2370 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. Wednesday, May 27, 5:00 – 7:00 PM RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! This session will focus on introducing and crafting the daenggi (댕기) decorative hair ribbon and jangmyeongru (장명루) five-colored longevity bracelet. ●Sew and decorate a traditional daenggi using gold foil ●Make a jangmyeongru, symbolizing health and protection ●Optional: Try on traditional Korean hanbok clothing   National Museum of Asian Art 1050 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. Thursday, May 28, 1:00 – 3:00 PM RSVP FOR THIS EVENT!   This session will focus on introducing and crafting the bojagi (보자기) wrapping cloth and jangmyeongru (장명루) five-colored longevity bracelet. ●Learn six different traditional bojagi wrapping techniques, each with unique artistic appearance ●Make a jangmyeongru, symbolizing health and protection ●Optional: Try on traditional Korean hanbok clothing About the Instructor and Crafts Youngjae Kim is a former Senior Curator at the National Folk Museum of Korea with over 20 years of experience in Korean traditional attire and cultural heritage. She currently leads research and cultural programs through the Hansan Research Institute.     Daenggi (댕기)   This traditional Korean ribbon is used to adorn a traditional Korean hair braid for women and is often made of silk and with gold or silver foil patterns. Participants will complete stitching, apply decorative motifs, and learn how to wear the daenggi. See an example video here!    Jangmyeongru (장명루) This five-colored braided bracelet symbolizes health, protection, and longevity. Participants will create their own bracelet that integrates this traditional color symbolism. See an example video here!         Bojagi (보자기) Bojagi is an icon of traditional Korean culture. This versatile and beautiful wrapping cloth is rooted in women’s domestic culture, where many everyday household objects were carefully crafted with both form and function in mind. Influenced by royal traditions of the Joseon Dynasty, bojagi reflects both practicality and aesthetic refinement. Reusable and eco-friendly, it embodies flexibility, creativity, and the beauty of thoughtful wrapping without waste. In this workshop, participants will explore a variety of bojagi fabrics, colors, and patterns while learning how different wrapping styles can create unique forms and expressions. Each participant will discover their own style through hands-on practice and creative experimentation. Participants will receive a mystery box to create their own magical bojagi, with each result offering a unique surprise. See example videos here and here!  

Join us to celebrate Korean pottery artist Yeonsoo Kim's participation in the 2026 Smithsonian Craft Show with a special K-Culture Talk about this timeless art and craft.  This in-depth exploration of onggi (옹기), Korea's traditional “breathing” earthenware vessel, traces the journey of onggi from its historical function as a practical fermentation and storage container to its contemporary reinterpretation as fine art, highlighting both its functional purpose and evolving aesthetic forms.  Kim will detail his creative process and the cultural context behind his work, offering insight into the evolution of his artistic practice. The program will feature an artist talk and a brief live demonstration with selected participants. On-site, attendees will have the opportunity to view his unique onggi works, along with selected pieces to be showcased at the Smithsonian Craft Show. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience both the tradition and modern possibilities of onggi in one engaging event!   Onggi: A Journey from Ancient Breath to Modern Form Monday, April 20, 2026, 6:00–8:00 PM Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. Program: Introduction to the history and culture of Korean onggi & live demonstration   Thanks for your interest! This event is currently full and no longer accepting RSVPs, but please look out for more K-Culture Talk events coming soon!  Yeonsoo Kim is a South Korean ceramic artist currently based in the United States. His work has received both national and international recognition, including being named by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) among its Emerging Artists in 2020. Most recently, he won Best in Show at the 2025 Smithsonian Craft Show and was honored as Featured Artist and Best in Show winner at Richmond Art and Design (2025).   Kim has participated in prestigious residencies, including the Archie Bray Foundation, where he was awarded the Matsutani Fellowship and the Etchart-Satre Fellowship, as well as at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and the Korea Ceramic Foundation. He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics at Lamar Dodd School of Art, University of Georgia in Athens, GA, and his Bachelor of Fine Arts in ceramics and glass from the Hongik University located in Seoul. Kim has held apprenticeships with onggi masters in Korea’s Jeolla Province (Hayngjong Oh) and Gyeongsang Province (Jinkyu Huh).   His practice continues to explore the dialogue between traditional and contemporary form, focusing on the evocative "breathing volume" and the visceral presence of clay. For more, visit his website at www.yeonsooceramics.com.     Above, center: This piece features diverse characters and lines that interact and communicate with each other conveying their relationships to viewers. Formally the work suggests implied images and stories. The shape of the images represents my own relationships (red clay, white slip, underglaze, 2023).