The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) presents Transcending Boundaries: Discovering Contemporary Korean Artists, a new exhibition of 50 sensuous works spanning painting, sculpture, installation, and holograms that explore a new collective understanding of materiality, reality, and human emotion.   Works by Sung Jin Min, Hwang Nam Kyu, Kim Min Jeong, Park Jae Young, Shin So Young, and Kim Jung Wuk each stem from the artists’ personal experiences yet employ a diverse array of methods and materials to express emotion and memory, often within each piece.   By emphasizing the qualities inherent to each medium, such as paint texture, subtle hues and light effects, perception of space, or the surface of sculpture, the artists encourage viewers to experience the artwork through their senses rather than fixed or preconceived interpretations. Such a sensory reading—layered on top of subtle cultural cues and rich symbolism in the subject matter of each piece—opens the door to new ways of both communicating and perceiving personally expressive works of art.   Through this diverse collection of creative and self-reflective works, visitors can also transcend cultural boundaries to gain a deeper understanding of Korean life and emotions through the artistic lens of these six emerging artists.   Transcending Boundaries goes on view March 5 through April 10, 2026 at the KCCDC and launches with a public opening reception on Thursday, March 5, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. (RSVP required). Attendees at the opening will be among the first to view the exhibition and enjoy a light Korean refreshments.   Transcending Boundaries: Discovering Contemporary Korean Artists Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. Exhibition: March 5 - April 10, 2026 Opening Reception: Thursday, March 5, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. (RSVP required) OPENING RECEPTION RSVP COMING SOON!  About the Exhibition   Transcending Boundaries is presented in three thematic sections that reflect diverse perspectives on each artist’s subjective inner world, as well as the relationship between material and immaterial aspects of both their artistic medium and underlying emotions.   Gallery 1 introduces three artists whose practices are shaped by inner psychological states. Sung Jin Min’s paintings capture life’s fleeting moments in time, translated into abstract static forms on canvas. Hwang Nam Kyu explores the materiality of his medium through glistening sculptural works created by repeatedly rubbing the surface by hand. Kim Min Jeong expresses emotion through painting, presenting works that evoke sensations preserved in the artist’s memory.   Gallery 2 focuses on works that emphasize painterly qualities and vivid color. Park Jae Young presents synesthetic paintings that engage both visual and tactile perception, while Shin So Young’s paintings explore the depths of human emotion and interpersonal relationships.   Gallery 3 presents artworks centered on the imperfect relationship between reality and perception. This gallery features newly produced hologram and light-based works by Kim Jung Wuk, in which visual elements seem to appear and disappear, creating an immersive spatial experience. About the Artists (additional details below) Sung Jin Min records the flow of time. On the canvas, multiple layers of color are repeatedly applied, representing different states of time. By capturing such moments, as perceived by the artist, the works visually express a sense of temporal continuity. Hwang Nam Kyu explores the materiality of material. His sculptures are completed through the repetitive act of rubbing the surface by hand, a physical process that resonates with the healing of wounds. He begins his practice with the concept of “skinship,” refining imperfect materials and transforming them into new sculptural forms. Kim Min Jeong reveals emotion through painting. His practice begins with confronting memories rooted in personal experiences and sensations embedded within the inner self. Figures depicted on his canvas may exhibit expressionless faces, and their bodies are often distorted or floating in space. Though vaguely recognizable as human forms, these incomplete and ambiguous images invite multiple interpretations. Park Jae Young creates synesthetic paintings that engage senses of both vision and touch. By objectifying imagery derived from knitting, his compositions emphasize the tactile, textured qualities of textiles. Familiar and warm imagery that is easily recognized jumps out from his canvases, further amplifying the visual sensibility inherent in painting. Shin So Young’s artistically depicted wings convey human emotion, relationships, and the longing for one’s dreams. Rather than emphasizing functionality, these wings signify the power that emerges when two come together. The artist visualizes solidarity and love formed through relationships between individuals, embracing the beauty of connection. Kim Jung Wuk works with holograms. He creates experiences in which illumination appears and disappears within the exhibition space, allowing viewers to directly perceive the gap between reality and unreality. Sung Jin Min Stroll Acrylic on canvas, 45.9x35.8in, 2023 Hwang Nam Kyu Sweet Dream FRP, Stainless steel, Bronze, Acrylic, 20x20x27cm (9.8x9.8x13.7in), 2024 Kim Min Jeong Withering II Oil on canvas, 40x40cm (15.7x15.7in), 2025 Park Jae Young Woolscape - Houseboats Oil on canvas, 65x50cm (25.5x19.6 inch), 2023 Shin So Young Shape of the Heart 202201 25.6 x 20.9 inch, Acrylic gouache on canvas, 2022 Kim Jung Wuk LAYER Optical hologram, 40cmx50cm, 2023 About the Artists (detail) Sung Jin Min is an abstract painter whose work explores the nature of time and the subtle traces of sensations that appear and quietly disappear. She received her BFA and MFA in Painting from Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul and later earned her MFA from the University of Pennsylvania. Since then, she has presented her work in solo and group exhibitions in Seoul, New York, and various international art fairs. She currently works between Korea and the United States while also directing Gallery Knot.   Rather than presenting defined imagery or narrative, Sung’s paintings unfold through layered color fields, softened edges, and moments of translucency. Colors accumulate, overlap, and dissolve across the surface, suggesting not a fixed moment but the lingering residue of experience. For the artist, time is not a stable or measurable entity; it is a fluid and shifting flow of perception that continuously gathers and transforms. Standing before her work, viewers are not asked to decode a specific meaning. Instead, they are invited to pause and allow their own memories and emotions to surface. The subtle variations in tone and depth create a space where perception unfolds gradually. Meaning emerges not instantly, but through quiet attention.   Hwang Nam Gyu (artist name: ARO) was born in a rural village in Sacheon, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. He majored in sculpture at Dong-A University in Busan and, after graduating, moved to the Seoul metropolitan area, where he continues his artistic practice. He has held solo exhibitions at Jeongsu Gallery (2025), Gallery Nut (2024), and Topohaus (2023), and has participated in domestic and international art fairs including Superfine Art Fair (Washington, D.C.) and Aqua Art Miami.   Hwang balances commercial and artistic work, channeling the resulting deficiencies and energy into his creations. He explores the concept of physical intimacy, translating the sensations of connection, communion, and healing into sculptural language. Using symbolic forms like apples, animals, the human body, and mountains, he expresses the wounds and recovery processes experienced in relationships. Through repetitive sculptural actions of rubbing and filling surfaces, he narrates the healing journey of enduring and overcoming injury. Recently he has expanded his sculptural exploration to contemplate how nature is wounded by human desires and purposes, and its recovery.   Kim Min Jeong was born in South Korea. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Western Painting from Cheongju University’s College of Arts and completed a master's degree in Western Painting at Chung-Ang University’s Graduate School of Fine Arts. She has held solo exhibitions primarily in Seoul and participated in group exhibitions across Korea, including in Suwon and Ulsan. Kim was selected as an emerging artist by the Seoul Arts Center which featured her work in the exhibition program. She has expanded her scope of activity through art fairs held in Seoul and Busan.   Kim reveals deep emotion through painting. Her practice begins with confronting memories rooted in personal experiences and sensations embedded within the inner self.   Park Jae Young was born in 1973 in South Korea and is currently based in Seoul. He received his BFA in Western Painting from Chung-Ang University and completed his MFA at the same institution. In 2021, he received the Painting Award at the London Art Biennale and was selected three consecutive times for the Aesthetica Art Prize (Future Now). His major exhibitions include Scope Miami Beach, AQUA Art Miami, KunstRai Amsterdam, and Art the Hague, and he has participated in international art fairs and biennales in Seoul, London, New York, Milan, Taipei, and Hong Kong. His works have been presented at Christie’s Hong Kong and K Auction, and are held in corporate and private collections internationally.   Park is renowned for his hyper-realistic “woolscapes,” meticulously painted landscapes that use strands of wool as a central motif to explore themes of memory, human connection, and the passage of time. His restrained color palette and layered brushwork reflect deep inquiry into the sensorial qualities of surfaces and the emotional resonance of repetition. His practice bridges the tactile and the conceptual, transforming ordinary materials and visual elements into new sensations through color and texture.   Shin So Young graduated from Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul and its Graduate School of Fine Arts. She has expanded her practice across a wide range of media, including sculpture, animation, digital art, and painting, and has taught at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Sejong University, and the Graduate School of Education at Sookmyung Women’s University.   Shin is a contemporary artist who explores human emotions and relationships through the motif of wings. Her free and distinctive wing forms reflect each individual’s journey toward their dreams while also expressing the organic connections that bring people together.   Kim Jung Wuk completed a master's degree in holography at the Korea National University of Arts. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in immersive content at Kwangwoon University, continuing diverse research to share three-dimensional visual experiences with the public. For the past 13 years, using holography as his primary medium, Kim has reinterpreted everyday objects through this lens. Based in Heyri Art Village, Korea, he has been actively working both domestically and internationally, including in Japan, the United States, and Dubai, building a unique artistic world that combines scientific technology with artistic sensibility. Born with congenital amblyopia, Kim’s unique visual experience led to fundamental questions about existence and perception, which he explores artistically.

Join a special screening of dramatic short films for the DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF) 2026 including Back Then, a moving work by emerging Korean filmmaker Junhyeok Kim about a young man whose taxi ride in New York evokes a powerful memory.   Register through the KCCDC below for complimentary admission to this ticketed DCIFF event! Quantities are limited.   This curated DCIFF program brings together six powerful short films exploring memory, family, identity, and emotional turning points. Stick around after the films for a discussion and meeting with Director Junhyeok Kim! For full event information including other featured films and general public ticket sales, please visit the official DCIFF event page. DCIFF Personal & Drama Short Films Collection featuring "Back Then" Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026 Time: 2:10 PM – 4:30 PM Location: Regal Gallery Place (701 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001) Tickets offered through this page are part of a community ticket sponsorship and are free of charge, with limited availability. REGISTER FOR COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS! About the Film  Title: Back Then Director: Junhyeok Kim Runtime: 13 minutes Country: United States, 2025 Synopsis: As Haneul leaves home for college, a quiet taxi ride to New York stirs a fading childhood memory—sparked by an old, crumpled Leche Frita wrapper. Back Then is a tender reflection on family, memory, and growing up between cultures. About the Director Junhyeok [Eric] Kim is a South Korean filmmaker at New York University Tisch School of the Arts majoring in Film & TV. His first short film "Well-dying," has won over 20 awards and nominations including Audience Award at the Oscar®-qualifying Indy Shorts Film Festival, Special Presentation at the Oscar®-qualifying 32nd Heartland International Film Festival, Oscar®-qualifying deadCenter Festival, Remi Winner at the 56th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, and many more.  ●2024 Oscar® winner Ben Proudfoot's Breakwater Studios quoted Well-dying, "A beautiful piece...sending our big congratulations." ●RogerEbert.com wrote "Wrenching and exquisite. The work of a born filmmaker. It feels like the work of a filmmaker three times his age."  

Join the KCCDC and Asia Families for a special screening of the documentary K-Number, which shares personal stories of Korean adoptees, highlighting their challenges, triumphs, and the ongoing search for self and heritage. This thought-provoking film invites reflection on identity, culture, and community. Stay after the screening for a Q&A with producer Seyoung Jo and several adoptees featured in the film to hear firsthand insights, pose questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the stories portrayed. Free with an RSVP! K-Number Sunday, February 8, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 PM (Discussion & Q&A: 7 – 7:30 PM) Crescendo Studio (8101a US Route 29, Falls Church, VA 22042) RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! About K-Number In the early 1970s, Mioka was found by chance on the street, unable to remember her own name. As the years passed, she traveled to Korea multiple times in search of her birth family. Each time, however, she returned with manipulated documents and concealed records. What is the truth behind the K-Number, and what secrets lie hidden within the missing files? Across time and borders, a long-buried truth begins to surface. Awards & Nominations 2025: 13th Diaspora Film Festival – Diaspora Feature Section 2025: 22nd CPH:DOX – F:ACT Award Nominee 2024: 50th Seoul Independent Film Festival – Grand Prize (Feature Competition) 2024: 50th Seoul Independent Film Festival – Enthusiastic Staff Award 2024: 29th Busan International Film Festival – Wide Angle Documentary Competition / Documentary Audience Award

Celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Red Horse at the Smithsonian's Lunar New Year Festival, featuring KCCDC cultural displays, activities, giveaways, and more that celebrate Seollal!  Find KCCDC table in the pop-up market inside the Arts + Industries Building, right next door to more festivities and performances at the National Museum of Asian Art. And don't miss Korean dance and drumming group Di Dim Sae Korean Traditional Art Institute the same day!  Lunar New Year 2026 Celebration: Korean Seollal  Saturday, February 21, 12:00 - 6:00 PM  Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building For details and to RSVP, visit the NMAA website. Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) 2026: Celebrating the Year of the Red Horse To celebrate Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, and welcome the Year of the Red Horse (2026), the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. will present an exhibition of traditional Seollal seasonal customs (sesipungsok) and display authentic ceremonial items associated with the holiday. Visitors will receive a limited number of traditional Korean craft souvenirs inspired by Seollal traditions. KCCDC Giveaway Items & Cultural Insights Please note: gifts are limited in quantity, one gift per person, and items will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis! Thank you for your understanding.  ●Bokjumeoni (복주머니) – Korean Fortune Pouch A traditional silk pouch symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. The bokjumeoni is believed to bring luck and abundance for the coming year. ●Year of the Red Horse 2026 Pin Button (2026년 병오년 붉은 말의 해 핀버튼) A commemorative pin celebrating the Year of the Red Horse, symbolizing energy, progress, and success. ●Bokjori (복조리) – Fortune Strainer A traditional bamboo strainer originally used to wash rice. During Seollal, bokjori is hung at the door to “scoop up” good luck and prosperity throughout the year. ●Mape (마패) – Joseon Dynasty Horse Pass A replica of an official horse credential used during the Joseon Dynasty, allowing government officials safe and unhindered travel. The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. bestows this symbolic horse pass as a token of authority, protection, and rising fortune. ●Aekmagi Myeongtae (액막이 명태) – Good Luck Fish A traditional dried pollock charm symbolizing protection and good fortune. Often hung at the entrance of homes during Seollal to ward off bad luck and welcome blessings. ●Minhwa Coloring Set (민화 컬러링 4종 세트) A Korean traditional folk painting coloring set featuring four symbolic themes: ○Tiger & Magpie – Protection and good fortune ○Peony & Butterfly – Prosperity, happiness, love, and longevity ○Deer & Crane – Peace, nobility, and good fortune ○Chaekgeori – Books and scholars’ objects symbolizing knowledge, learning, and aspiration ●K-Pop Random Album A limited number of K-Pop albums will also be given away as a special surprise gift.  

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) is pleased to partner with the Trump-Kennedy Center to present fusion ensemble Korean Fever on February 19 for The Legacy of Light, Korea!, a dynamic music, dance, and DJ showcase celebrating the Lunar New Year on the Millennium Stage.   Korean Fever, a diverse ensemble of world music artists led by gayageum zither master Rami Seo, fuses traditional Korean music with contemporary creative compositions, offering a distinctly immersive cultural experience. The Legacy of Light, Korea! weaves together K-Classic, K-Pop, K-Jazz, and Korean traditional performing arts with global styles, transforming five millennia of Korean cultural heritage into a powerful artistic narrative of resilience, hope, and emotional depth.   This event also marks the Lunar New Year, an important traditional holiday of communion celebrated in Korea and elsewhere in 2026 officially on February 17. For their debut at this prestigious venue, Korean Fever will showcase the uniqueness of creative Korean music in a 60-minute performance that blends traditional Korean and Western instruments with live K-Pop inspired dance and DJ sets.  The ensemble features Rami Seo (gayageum, Korean Fever founder), guitarist Ho-Kyung Choi, contrabassist Jeong-Hwan Park, drummer Peter Manheim, vocalists Rina Kim and Eun-Ki Park, DJ Larry Jung, K-pop dance group ALLNIGHTERS (Clara Kim, Seunga Park, Evgeniya Yanzhuraeva), and media artist Sunghyun Jang. The Legacy of Light, Korea! A Lunar New Year Celebration featuring World Music Ensemble Korean Fever  Thursday, February 19, 6:00 PM  Millennium Stage, The Trump Kennedy Center Tickets are free, with advance reservations available beginning Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. via the Kennedy Center website: RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! About the Artists   Korean Fever began in 2019 with Korean Fever: Returns and carrying the hope that Korea—having experienced remarkable economic growth and a cultural renaissance from the 1988 Seoul Olympics through the 2000s—would once again enter a new season of prosperity following the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Although the pandemic brought significant challenges, Korean Fever views this as an opportunity for Korea to reveal its potential as a future global leader in economy, culture, and other fields. Since its launch, Korean Fever has completed tours across Korea, East Africa, and three states in the United States, as well as performances throughout Europe (France, Italy, Belgium, Germany), Uzbekistan, Mexico, Israel, Indonesia, and India. Continuing this momentum, Korean Fever is embarking on a world tour aiming to inspire dreams, share Korea’s artistic legacy, and bring healing to audiences across Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and South Africa. Korean Fever provides opportunities for not only Koreans, but also people from all over the world who love Korean culture and Koreans to experience a variety of music genres, from Korean traditional music to K-pop. By sublimating the lives and sufferings unique to immigrants into performing arts, Korean Fever aims to deliver comfort and hope to Koreans and immigrants worldwide. Korean Fever takes as its mission to support the lives of immigrants and inspire pride as Koreans and in Korean culture.   Performers   Rami Seo | Gayageum Hokyung Choy | Guitar Ian Kang | Bass Peter Manheim | Drum Rina Kim | Vocals Eunki Hera Park | Vocals Guest Performers | Abigail Sieun Lee, Ariana Siel Lee, Antonio Camardi, Ayoung OliviaPark, Bomi Kim, David Hanju Youk, Dayeon Lee, Ellis Jinyoung Park, Gianluca Camardi, Hanniel Kim, Lime Park, Marcello Camardi, Minji Kim, Nathanael Siyoo Lee, Nayun Lee, Raham Park West1ne (Larry Jung) | DJ ALL NIGHTERS (Clara Kim, Christina Lee, Evgeniya Yanzhuraeva) | Dance Sunghyun Jang | Media Arts   Rami Seo | Leader of Korean Fever, Gayageum Player Rami Seo is an internationally acclaimed gayageum artist whose work bridges ancient Korean traditions with contemporary global music. She trained in Seoul under world-renowned masters, including several holders of Korea’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage titles. She graduated with top honors from the National Gugak High School and the Seoul National University of Traditional Arts, and later served as valedictorian at Chung-Ang University. She is currently completing her Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology at Hunter College. With more than 3,000 performances across Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia, India, Uzbekistan, Israel, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, Tanzania, the United States, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mexico, Ms. Seo has appeared on many of the world’s most prestigious stages. Her credits include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center (as the first Korean artist to perform), the United Nations, the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Blue Note, Smalls Jazz Club, Flushing Town Hall, Symphony Space, La MaMa, and major international theaters and festivals. Since 2007, she has led Rami Seo’s World Music Ensemble and GEMiNY as founder and music director. She is also a prominent radio host on AM1660 K-Radio. Her ongoing world tour project, Korean Fever, continues to share Korea’s artistic legacy and inspire audiences around the globe.   Ho-kyung Jesse Choy | Guitar Jesse Choy is a highly versatile guitarist known for his natural lyricism, fluency across diverse musical languages, and refined technical command. Equally respected as a performer and educator, he has built an international career grounded in musical depth and integrity. Born and raised in Seoul, Korea, Jesse began his musical training in classical guitar and composition before discovering jazz through the music of Wes Montgomery. After gaining recognition through numerous competitions, he quickly established himself as one of Korea’s most in-demand guitarists. He later received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, completing his undergraduate degree in just two and a half years, followed by a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from New York University. He has completed all coursework toward a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree and is currently finishing his dissertation. Now based in New York City, Jesse remains an active presence on the jazz scene, performing at leading venues and collaborating with distinguished musicians. His compositions and performances have been presented throughout the United States and Europe. As a faculty member at multiple universities, he is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of musicians.   Peter Manheim | Drums & Percussion Peter Manheim is a drummer and percussionist from Evanston, Illinois. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied with acclaimed drummers Billy Hart and Jamey Haddad. Currently based in Brooklyn, Peter performs regularly throughout New York City as well as nationally and internationally with a wide range of ensembles. His debut EP, In Time, was released in 2023 on Northern Spy Records, followed by a full-length album, Early Waves, released in 2025 on his own label, Nü Bossa Recordings. Rina Kim | Soprano Soprano Rina Kim is a New York–based performer and vocal educator active in both classical music and musical theatre. She holds degrees from Ewha Womans University, the Mannes School of Music, and Teachers College at Columbia University, and is also a full-scholarship graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). She made her musical theatre debut in The King and I alongside Lou Diamond Phillips and has since performed in productions and concerts across the United States as a member of Actors’ Equity Association. As a classical soprano, she is a winner of the Artist International Competition and has appeared in recital at Carnegie Hall and Merkin Concert Hall. Ms. Kim currently serves on the voice faculty at Poly Prep Country Day School and is completing coursework in voice science at New York University. She is preparing the release of her debut album following a recording collaboration with the Hungarian MAV Orchestra.   Eunki Hera Park | Vocals Eunki Hera Park is a versatile vocalist based in New York and New Jersey, known for her expressive style and strong command of Korean popular music. She won first place in a major pop vocal competition in New York and previously received top honors at a collegiate music festival in Korea. As the lead vocalist of a live band and a beloved radio personality for three years, she has captivated audiences with her dynamic performances and engaging stage presence. Hera continues to promote Korean music and connect with listeners through her distinctive voice.   Larry Jung (west1ne) | DJ & Music Producer Larry Jung, professionally known as west1ne, resides in New Jersey and is originally from Queens, New York. He has been an active music producer for over 15 years, working across a wide range of genres. His career includes a platinum record with artist Joji and widespread respect from peers and mentors within the industry. In recent years, Larry has expanded his artistic practice to DJing and audio engineering, curating music for live performances and producing large-scale events. He has also been involved in producing cultural events such as Manse, which explore and celebrate Korean American identity. He is passionate about sharing his experience in music production and continuing to contribute to the cultural and creative community.   ALLNIGHTERS (Clara Kim, Seunga Park, Evgeniya Yanzhuraeva) | Dance Crew ALLNIGHTERS is a New York City–based K-pop dance team founded by Clara Kim. The group is known for its high-energy dance covers and signature one-take performance videos filmed in Times Square. Blending expression, musicality, and group synchronization, the team aims to bridge fan culture with professional performance. Under Clara Kim’s leadership and creative direction, ALLNIGHTERS has built a strong digital presence, with their YouTube channel surpassing 120,000 subscribers and performance videos averaging over 300,000 views. Notable performances include K-Pop Club Night, Korea Fest, and the Annual Korean Parade & Festival hosted by KAAGNY. In 2025, the team earned first place at both the NJKACC K-Pop Dance Contest and the Skyview High K-Pop Cover Competition.