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Seoul hopes to become global cultural powerhouse with new Lee Kun-hee Museum
- November 15, 2021 | Other
Seoul hopes to become global cultural powerhouse with new Lee Kun-hee Museum
Updated : 2021-11-11 10:53
By Kwak Yeon-soo
A large empty lot in Songhyeon-dong, Jongno District in Seoul, which previously had housing for U.S. embassy staff, has been chosen as the site for the tentatively named Lee Kun-hee Museum, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The culture ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Wednesday, to construct the museum there, close to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA). The government plans to launch a preliminary feasibility study this month and receive international bids for the museum's design in the second half of next year. It aims to complete construction and open the museum in 2027.
"We have decided to build the museum in Songhyeon-dong because of its proximity to other museums and art galleries, as well as its tourism infrastructure," Culture Minister Hwang Hee said on Thursday.
In fact, the site is also located close to historical tourist attractions, including Gyeongbok Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, a fact that is expected to attract more visitors to the museum.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon expressed his wish to revitalize the city's tourism industry through the construction of the new museum. He also pledged that the city will construct a visitor-friendly park nearby the museum.
"This project is not aimed at developing one specific region, but elevating the entire country's status as a cultural powerhouse. With the addition of the Lee Kun-hee Museum, I am confident that this area will be reborn as a major art district for people," Oh said.
"Our goal is to make Seoul one of the world's top five favored cities for tourism. We hope that this leads to building new museums focusing on hallyu, or Korean popular culture, and allows Korea to step up to become the world's newest cultural powerhouse," he added.
The 9,787-square-meter plot in Songhyeon-dong was chosen over the grounds of the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan District after deliberation by a committee handling Lee's art donations to the state.
In April, the family of late Samsung Chairman Lee donated 23,181 works of art: 21,693 pieces to the National Museum of Korea and 1,488 pieces to the MMCA. The collection includes masterpieces by Korean and Western artists, such as Kim Whan-ki, Claude Monet and Salvador Dali. The four-story building will house the entire Lee Kun-hee art collection in one location.
The museum's official name will also be chosen after discussions by an experts committee and the relevant authorities.
A large empty lot in Songhyeon-dong, Jongno District in Seoul, which previously had housing for U.S. embassy staff, has been chosen as the site for the tentatively named Lee Kun-hee Museum, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The culture ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Wednesday, to construct the museum there, close to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA). The government plans to launch a preliminary feasibility study this month and receive international bids for the museum's design in the second half of next year. It aims to complete construction and open the museum in 2027.
"We have decided to build the museum in Songhyeon-dong because of its proximity to other museums and art galleries, as well as its tourism infrastructure," Culture Minister Hwang Hee said on Thursday.
In fact, the site is also located close to historical tourist attractions, including Gyeongbok Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, a fact that is expected to attract more visitors to the museum.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon expressed his wish to revitalize the city's tourism industry through the construction of the new museum. He also pledged that the city will construct a visitor-friendly park nearby the museum.
"This project is not aimed at developing one specific region, but elevating the entire country's status as a cultural powerhouse. With the addition of the Lee Kun-hee Museum, I am confident that this area will be reborn as a major art district for people," Oh said.
"Our goal is to make Seoul one of the world's top five favored cities for tourism. We hope that this leads to building new museums focusing on hallyu, or Korean popular culture, and allows Korea to step up to become the world's newest cultural powerhouse," he added.
The 9,787-square-meter plot in Songhyeon-dong was chosen over the grounds of the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan District after deliberation by a committee handling Lee's art donations to the state.
In April, the family of late Samsung Chairman Lee donated 23,181 works of art: 21,693 pieces to the National Museum of Korea and 1,488 pieces to the MMCA. The collection includes masterpieces by Korean and Western artists, such as Kim Whan-ki, Claude Monet and Salvador Dali. The four-story building will house the entire Lee Kun-hee art collection in one location.
The museum's official name will also be chosen after discussions by an experts committee and the relevant authorities.
Reporter : yeons.kwak@koreatimes.co.kr
