[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"

Since childhood, she has accumulated a variety of experiences in her search to discover her innate talents. Even though arts and physical education were not common in those days, her mother encouraged all three siblings to learn disciplines such as dance, piano, and painting to help each find their own strengths. Her older sister became an artist, and inspired by her, she also took the path of art. Later, after serving as a curator, she became the director 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 Sunghee Kim, Director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Inspired by the advice of the late Nam June Paik, a master of video art, Kim experienced trends in the global art world while in the United States. After returning to Korea, she laid the groundwork for non-profit alternative spaces and led efforts to support young artists, carving her own unique path. Since taking office as the director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, she has ushered in an era of 3.46 million annual visitors under the initiative of a “Museum for All.” This year, she secured over 10 billion won in additional funding and led efforts to attract donations of major works by world-renowned artists, thereby enhancing the museum’s competitiveness and international reputation. Recently, The Asia Business Daily met with Director Kim at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul, a female leader serving as a bridge between the global art community and Korean contemporary art.

- As a curator, you rose to become the director of Korea's representative art museum. If you had to pick the most decisive turning point in your life, what would it be?

▲Undoubtedly, it was meeting Nam June Paik. While studying art history in graduate school and working as a curator, I had the opportunity to work closely under his guidance. He emphasized the importance of overseas experience, saying, “If you don’t understand modern Western art, you can’t understand contemporary art.” At the time, it was difficult for me to study abroad for a long period since I’d just suffered a miscarriage, but he personally wrote a letter of recommendation encouraging me to at least try an internship. Thanks to him, I interned at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and at the Dia Art Foundation, gaining firsthand experience in the international art scene and nonprofit arts support systems. This led me to establish Sarubia Dabang and dedicate myself to supporting young artists, which proved to be a crucial turning point in becoming who I am today.

- While the cultural and arts scene is believed to value diversity and creativity, it’s been said that the proportion of women in leadership roles at major institutions is still low. What have been the opportunities and limitations you’ve experienced as a female leader?

▲I grew up amid societal expectations about how women are supposed to behave and, unconsciously at times, internalized those views myself. However, in the arts, women’s unique sensitivity and empathy prove to be significant strengths. Curators must connect artists, artworks, and audiences, and that requires subtle understanding and communication. In fact, women’s achievements in the art world are increasingly prominent. The chief curator at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is also a woman, and all four artists sponsored for last year’s 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

- K-pop and K-content have secured global influence, but there’s a perception that the fine arts receive relatively less public attention. How do you assess the global competitiveness of Korean contemporary art?

▲Compared to K-pop and K-content, the arts progress at a slower pace, but once established, their impact and persistence are far greater. The U.S. secured cultural leadership by strategically nurturing artists and fostering discourse through support from museums, universities, and corporations since the Cold War era. Korea already possesses world-class content competitiveness, and Korean contemporary art has immense potential. With growing international interest, I believe Korean contemporary art’s global rise is just a matter of time if it is matched by strategic investment and support. The world’s attention to Korean art has already begun; now, the key is how strategically we cultivate that interest.

- Since you became director, what changes have you focused on the most, and what do you consider your greatest achievements?

▲With the goal of creating a “Museum for All,” I focused on lowering the barriers to contemporary art and strengthening communication with our visitors. I wanted to make the museum a space where anyone could comfortably visit by making contemporary art more accessible. By tailoring exhibition explanations to the level of our audience and improving accessibility, the number of visitors exceeded 3.46 million last year. In addition, we ran a research fellowship program that invited international scholars and curators, contributing to the development of discourse in Korean contemporary art. Notably, the museum secured works by major global artists such as James Turrell through collaborations with companies and foundations and, during my tenure, brought in over 10 billion won in additional funding—a result I consider especially meaningful.

- What advice would you offer to young female curators and those aspiring to enter the cultural and arts field?

▲What matters most is not which school you attend, but how much you see and experience. The visual arts are ultimately about training your eye. You need to see a lot of works and constantly test your own aesthetic sensibility. Communication skills are also critically important. Curators must understand the artist and their work and communicate with the audience. You should explain why you chose a particular work and why it’s displayed in a certain place, so visitors can empathize with it. The ability to bridge the artist’s intent and the visitor’s experience is paramount. Women often hold themselves to much higher standards, but I think it’s important to free yourself from that self-censorship to some extent.

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 difficulties with the glass ceiling or career interruptions. What has been your source of perseverance?

▲Sincerity and consistency. Those are the values I consider most important when evaluating people. Trustworthy individuals maintain the direction and values they consider crucial even over long periods of time. Even if there are gaps in your career, as long as you don’t lose sincerity and direction regarding your goals, opportunities will always arise. I, too, often wanted to quit. There were disappointments with sponsored artists and times when I was hurt by people. Yet, my love for people and art gave me the strength to continue to the end.

- How would you like the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art to be remembered as an institution in Korean society and the global art world?

▲I hope the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will establish itself as a platform that connects Korean contemporary art with the world. Today, world-renowned artists are proposing exhibitions directly to us, and many are considering Korea as a launch point for entering Asia. We are collaborating with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA), and MoMA is also showing great interest in Korean contemporary art. The Lee Kun-hee Collection's success at overseas exhibitions demonstrates the rising interest in Korean art. However, such trends do not last forever. Now is the time for both government and corporations to make strategic investments.

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 term set to end in September, do you have any personal goals?

▲Personally, I feel I have devoted all my energy to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art over the past three years. In the future, I want to return to supporting young artists through the CAN Foundation (a non-profit arts foundation that supports emerging artists).

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

▲A book that recently impressed me is “The Meaning of Life” by Thomas Hylland Eriksen. I gained many insights as the book explores the meaning of life through relationships, absence, balance, and dreams. I believe that, ultimately, art is also about human life, concerns, and relationships. I once heard about a theater artist who, when struggling creatively, visited the museum, viewed artworks, and came away with answers. Every visitor comes to the museum with their own needs. In that sense, this book is a wonderful guide that helps us connect life and art.

▶About Sunghee Kim, 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 holds a master's in art history and a doctorate in plastic arts. She has served as curator for the Gwangju Biennale Special Exhibition, director of Sarubia Dabang, and professor at Hongik University's Graduate School of Fine Arts. In 2023, she became the 22nd director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. She is regarded as a leading figure in the arts and culture sector, recognized for her dedication to nurturing young artists and promoting the globalization of Korean contemporary art.

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