Korean Museum Association Marks 50th Anniversary; Five Selected for 'Proud Museum Person Award'

Ceremony to be held Oct. 12 at the National Museum of Korea, with about 500 museum and art museum professionals attending
Oh Sunhee, Yoon Sukja, Song Youngsook, Jeon Bosam and Kim Chasoon to receive awards; Kim Dongguk to receive Special Achievement Award

The Korean Museum Association will hold a ceremony marking its 50th anniversary at 2 p.m. on October 12 in the Grand Auditorium of the National Museum of Korea, where it will also present the 29th Proud Museum Person Award.

Recipients of the 29th Proud Museum Person Award. From left: Oh Sunhee, director of the Park Eulbok Embroidery Museum; Yoon Sookja, director of the Tteok Museum; Song Youngsook, director of Museum Hanmi; Jeon Bosam, director of the Manhae Memorial Hall; and Kim Chasoon, director of the Woo Jae-gil Art Museum. Korea Museums Association

Founded in 1976, the Korean Museum Association is the country's largest museum association, with more than 800 museums and art museums nationwide as members. About 500 people, including directors of museums and art museums from across the country and figures from the cultural and arts sectors, are expected to attend the ceremony.

The event will feature a commemorative video looking back on the association's past 50 years, awards for contributors, the unveiling and dedication of "50 Years of the Korean Museum Association," and the announcement of a vision for the next 50 years. A commemorative exhibition and reception will also be held.

The recipients of the 29th Proud Museum Person Award are Oh Sunhee, director of Park Eulbok Embroidery Museum; Yoon Sukja, director of the Rice Cake Museum; Song Youngsook, director of Museum Hanmi; Jeon Bosam, director of Manhae Memorial Hall; and Kim Chasoon, director of Wuje-gil Art Museum. Kim Dongguk, chairman of the Haengchon Cultural Foundation, will receive the Special Achievement Award.

Oh Sunhee was recognized for opening a museum specializing in embroidery in 2002, establishing a foundation for the preservation, study, and transmission of traditional embroidery, and promoting its artistic value through special exhibitions, restoration projects, and educational programs.

Yoon Sukja was praised for running the country's only museum specializing in rice cakes for 24 years, collecting more than 3,200 artifacts related to food culture, and contributing to the designation of "Tteok-making" as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2021.

Song Youngsook opened Korea's first art museum specializing in photography in 2003, laying the institutional foundation for Korean photography culture. She has continued to collect and preserve more than 20,000 items of photographic cultural heritage and support emerging artists through publishing and educational initiatives.

Jeon Bosam founded Manhae Memorial Hall and has collected more than 3,000 materials related to Han Yong-un, while promoting his ideas and literature. He also served as president of the Korean Museum Association and the Korean Literature Museum Association, and contributed to the enactment of ordinances promoting museums and to policy improvements.

Kim Chasoon founded Wuje-gil Art Museum in 2001 and has held more than 400 exhibitions over 25 years, contributing to the development of contemporary art in the region and expanding public access to culture. She has also worked to support artists with disabilities and train arts professionals.

Kim Dongguk, chairman of the Haengchon Cultural Foundation, who will receive the Special Achievement Award, founded the foundation and Haengchon Art Museum in 2014 to build cultural and arts infrastructure in rural and fishing communities. He has supported the revitalization of local culture through artist residencies and educational programs.

Jo Hanhee, president of the Korean Museum Association, said, "This 50th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the dedication and passion of museum and art museum professionals nationwide, who have protected and cultivated our cultural heritage for half a century. We will continue working with our member institutions to enhance the social value of museums and art museums."

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