Korea
1 October 2026 – 31 January 2027
Daily: 10.00–17.00 (Fridays 20.30)
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Room 35
The Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery
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Tickets
Save with our early bird offer. Adults from £14. See ticket information
Discover 2,000 years of Korean creativity – through works spanning from around 300 BC to the present day.
Featuring outstanding examples of sculpture, painting and decorative arts over two millennia – up to the present day – the exhibition presents the most comprehensive chronological survey of Korean visual and material culture seen in Europe for over 40 years.
This major exhibition draws almost exclusively from the 23,000 works bequeathed in 2021 by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee to the National Museum of Korea (NMK) and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA). It offers a dynamic journey through the art and material culture of the last 2,000 years. It also includes many National Treasures or Treasures, objects so designated for their exceptionally high quality and historical significance.
From ancient gold body ornaments and Buddhist icons to 12th- and 13th-century celadon-glazed stoneware, evocative ink landscapes and contemporary works responding to the turbulence of the 20th century, the objects on display tell a panoramic story of the history of Korea. Originally created for settings including royal tombs and palaces, Buddhist temples, scholars' studios, private homes and modern art spaces, most of the objects have never been seen in the UK before.
Highlights
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Pedestal with animal figurines
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Avalokiteshvara holding a kundika
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Gourd-shaped ewer with chrysanthemum design
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The Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra
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Flaming mirror on lion-shaped pedestal
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'Sun, Moon and Five Peaks' six-panel folding screen
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Clearing after rain on Mount Inwang
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Faceted bottle with bamboo design
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Tiger and magpie
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Woman in a red dress
Ticket information
Members
Members don't need to book to visit Korea. Please show your Membership card to gain entry. If you're visiting before your Membership card arrives, bring your Membership purchase confirmation email to the Membership Desk in the Great Court on the day of your visit. We'll then issue a temporary card to access your on-site benefits.
Please see our Visiting as a Member page for more information on visiting the Museum.
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Exhibition supporters
Supported by
This exhibition, drawn from the National Bequest of Lee Kun-Hee's Collection, is organised by the British Museum, the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.
The British Museum gratefully acknowledges its long-standing partnership with the National Museum of Korea. This exhibition has been made possible through a grant awarded by the National Museum of Korea's Overseas Korean Galleries Support Programme.
Corporate partner
