[Power K Woman] The Curator Discovered by Nam June Paik Becomes Head of Korea's Leading Art Museum

Interview with Kim Sunghee, Director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
From Nonprofit Alternative Spaces to Director of the National Museum
"What Matters More Than Good Schools Is Seeing and Experiencing a Lot"

From an early age, she accumulated a wide range of experiences in search of her own talents. Even though arts education was uncommon at the time, her mother encouraged all three siblings to learn dance, piano, and painting so that each could discover their own aptitude. Her older sister became a painter, and influenced by her, she also set out on the path of art. After working as a curator, she eventually rose to become the head of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, the country's leading public art museum.

Sunghee Kim, Director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, is posing during an interview with The Asia Business Daily at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

This is the story of Kim Sunghee, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Inspired by advice from the late Nam June Paik, a master of video art, she gained insight into the global art scene while overseas in the United States. After returning to Korea, she laid the foundation for the country’s nonprofit alternative spaces and took the lead in supporting young artists, carving out her own path. Since becoming director, she has championed the slogan "Museum for All," ushering in an era with 3.46 million visitors, and this year led the effort to secure more than 10 billion won in additional funding and to attract donations of world-renowned works, strengthening the museum’s competitiveness and international standing. We recently met Kim, a leader who has bridged the global art world and Korean contemporary art, at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

-You rose from curator to director of Korea's representative National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. What would you consider to be the most pivotal turning point in your life?

▲Without a doubt, it was meeting Nam June Paik. After majoring in art history in graduate school and working as a curator, I had many opportunities to work under Paik. He stressed the importance of overseas experience, saying, "You cannot understand contemporary art without understanding Western contemporary art." I had recently suffered a miscarriage, making it difficult to go abroad for an extended period, but he encouraged me to try an internship and even wrote a recommendation letter for me himself. Thanks to him, I interned at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Dia Foundation in New York, where I experienced the global art scene and nonprofit art support systems firsthand. This then led to the founding of Sarubia Dabang and the start of my support for young artists, serving as a crucial turning point in shaping who I am today.

-Although the cultural and art sector is valued for its diversity and creativity, there is still a perception that the proportion of female leaders at major institutions is low. What opportunities and limitations have you felt as a female leader?

▲I grew up within social expectations of how women “should” be, and I too have unconsciously internalized those perspectives. However, in the art field, women’s unique sensitivity and empathy become major strengths. The curator’s role—connecting artists, artworks, and audiences—requires delicate understanding and communication skills. In fact, women’s contributions in the art world are becoming increasingly prominent: all the chief curators at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art are women, and last year, all the winners of the "Artist of the Year" award were women.

Kim Sunghee, Director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, is giving an interview with The Asia Business Daily at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

-While K-pop and K-content have established global influence, it is often said that the visual arts receive relatively less public attention. How do you evaluate the global competitiveness of Korean contemporary art?

▲Compared to K-pop and K-content, the results in art may appear more gradual, but once art is established, its impact and sustainability are much greater. The U.S. secured cultural leadership after the Cold War by strategically fostering artists and discourse through support from museums, universities, and corporations. Korea already possesses world-class content competitiveness, and contemporary art has ample potential as well. With growing international interest, I believe that, provided there is strategic investment and support, it is only a matter of time before Korean contemporary art achieves global prominence. The world’s interest in Korean art has already begun, and the key now is how strategically this interest is cultivated.

-Since your appointment as director, what has been the most important change you focused on, and what do you consider your greatest achievement?

▲With the goal of building a "Museum for All," I focused on making contemporary art more accessible and strengthening communication with visitors. I wanted to present difficult contemporary art in a way that everyone could easily understand so that anyone could feel comfortable visiting the museum. By tailoring exhibition explanations and guides to visitors’ perspectives and improving accessibility, the number of visitors surpassed 3.46 million last year. Additionally, by running a research fellowship program that invites international scholars and curators, I have also contributed to shaping discourse on Korean contemporary art. We have secured the works of world-renowned masters such as James Turrell through collaborations with companies and foundations, and obtaining more than 10 billion won in additional funding during my tenure is another meaningful accomplishment.

-What advice would you give to younger women curators and young women aspiring to enter the cultural and art sector?

▲Having broad experiences and seeing a lot matters more than graduating from good schools. Visual art is, in the end, about training the eye. You must see many works and constantly test your own judgment. Communication skills are also crucial—curators need to understand both the artist and the artwork, and communicate with the audience. You must be able to explain why a certain work was chosen and why it is exhibited in its location so that visitors can relate. Above all, the ability to connect the artist’s intent with the viewer’s experience is essential. Women often hold themselves to stricter standards, but it is also important to allow oneself a little freedom from such self-censorship.

Sunghee Kim, Director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joyongjun

-Many women experience challenges such as the glass ceiling and career interruptions. What enabled you to persevere and not give up?

▲Sincerity and consistency. These are the values I consider most important when judging people. A trustworthy person maintains the values and direction that matter to them, even after many years. Even with career interruptions, if you do not lose your sincerity and sense of direction for what you want to do, opportunities will surely come. There were many times when I too wanted to give up—when I was disappointed by an artist I had supported, or hurt by others. Even so, my affection for people and art gave me the strength to endure until the end.

-How would you like the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art to be remembered within Korean society and the global art scene?

▲I hope the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will be remembered as a platform connecting Korean contemporary art and the global art scene. Today, leading international artists are coming to us with exhibition proposals, and they are considering Korea as the starting point for entering Asia. We are collaborating with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA), and MoMA has also shown great interest in Korean contemporary art. The Lee Kun-hee Collection’s remarkable success in international exhibitions is evidence of this heightened interest in Korean art. However, this momentum will not last forever. Now is the time for strategic investment by the government and corporations.

Kim Sunghee, Director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, is posing during an interview with The Asia Business Daily at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul located on Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

-With your retirement coming up at the end of the year, do you have any personal goals?

▲Personally, I feel I have devoted all my energy to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art for the past three years. Going forward, I want to dedicate myself once again to supporting young artists through KAN Foundation, a nonprofit art organization for emerging artists.

-If you were to recommend a book to aspiring female leaders, what would it be?

▲A book that left a strong impression on me recently is "The Meaning of Life" by Thomas Hylland Eriksen. I gained many insights as it explores the meaning of life through themes such as relationships, longing, balance, and dreams. I believe art, too, ultimately deals with human life, concerns, and relationships. I once heard that when a playwright faced a creative block, they found answers by visiting a museum and looking at the works. Each visitor comes to the museum with their own needs. In that sense, I think this book is an excellent guide, prompting reflection on both life and art.

▶About Kim Sunghee, Director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

Born in 1958, she graduated from Ewha Womans University with a degree in Oriental Painting and earned a master's in Art History and a PhD in Fine Arts. She has served as special curator for the Gwangju Biennale, director of Sarubia Dabang, and professor at the Graduate School of Fine Arts at Hongik University. In 2023, she became the 22nd director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. She is recognized as a leading figure in the culture and arts sector for her contributions to supporting young artists and promoting the globalization of Korean contemporary art.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.