Samsung Electronics, in partnership with the British Museum, hosted a gala event on Sept. 30 at the museum to commemorate the opening of “Korea” exhibition, a major showcasing of works from the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee’s renowned art collection. Following successful exhibitions in Washington D.C. and Chicago, it marks the European stop of the collection’s international tour. It is also the first major special presentation of Korean art at the British Museum in more than 40 years. The exhibition runs from Oct. 1, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027, and is being held at the Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery. “Korea,” spanning over two millennia, connect the history of Korean art in a unified narrative to reveal how Korea’s unique aesthetic values and artistic achievements have continued to be built upon and reinterpreted over many generations. The exhibition, drawn from over 23,000 artworks from the National Bequest of the Lee Kun-Hee Collection in 2021, is organised by the British Museum, the National Museum of Korea, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. At the gala, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee reflected on the Lee family’s multigenerational commitment to preserving Korea’s cultural heritage and sharing it with audiences around the world. Members of the family, including Hong Ra-Hee, Director Emerita of the Leeum Museum of Art, Lee Boo-jin, President & CEO of Hotel Shilla, and Lee Seo-hyun, President of Samsung C&T, also attended the event. “For generations, my family has held a guiding principle that art and culture should be preserved and shared,” Executive Chairman Lee said. “I hope this exhibition offers a gateway into Korean culture, spanning two thousand years of creativity and heritage, and that it will let everyone see Korea a little differently — for its beauty, its depth and its resilience.” At the reception held before the gala dinner, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal graced the opening of the exhibition. Among the 240 guests were the Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey MP, Minister for Artificial Intelligence Kanishka Narayan MP, former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Oliver Dowden, former Trade Minister Sir Greg Hands, former Culture Secretary Sir John Whittingdale, Trade Envoy to the Republic of Korea John Slinger, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Chair of the Republic of Korea All-Party Parliamentary Group Sir Ed Davey, and Dr. Ben Spencer, Vice Chair of the Republic of Korea All-Party Parliamentary Group. George Osborne, Chair of the British Museum, said, “We are thrilled here at the British Museum to be hosting this incredible exhibition. The Lee family’s contribution to our shared cultural heritage helps us understand and interpret the past, so that we may understand the future.” Maurice Lévy, Chairman Emeritus of Publicis Groupe, said that the exhibition is “not simply about objects from witnesses of a great past of Korea. They are evidence of a culture that has always valued craftsmanship, imagination, discipline, and excellence. Sharing those treasures with the world speaks volume about the values and the generosity of the Lee family. They understood, generation after generation, that looking forward does not mean forgetting where you come from.” Kanishka Narayan, Minister for Artificial Intelligence, said, “The UK and Korea work closely on technology and innovation, but there is so much more to our relationship. Korea’s art and culture are admired around the world, and this exhibition gives people in Britain a chance to explore its extraordinary artistic heritage. I’m grateful to Samsung for bringing this remarkable collection to London and sharing it with audiences here.” Kim Heung-chong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the U.K., commented that “it is particularly meaningful for the British Museum to open this exhibition of artworks showcasing two thousand years of Korean history, at a time when K-culture is enjoying global recognition,” and thanked