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Art brochure of Korean paintings held overseas published thanks to BTS's RM's donation

Published: 11 Mar. 2026, 16:54

JIN EUN-SOO
[email protected]

The ″Welcoming Banquet of the Governor of Pyeongan,″ painted by an unknown artist in the 19th century and currently held by the Peabody Essex Museum in the United States, is seen in this photo. It is one of the works included in the newly published art catalogue, the name of which translates to ″IT’S ____ HERE: Korean Paintings Shining Abroad.″ [OVERSEAS KOREAN CULTURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION]

Donations from BTS leader RM helped publish a brochure featuring Korean paintings held at museums and galleries abroad, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation said on Wednesday.

The art brochure, titled “IT’S ____ HERE: Korean Paintings Shining Abroad,” includes a wide spectrum of Korean paintings, from portraits to landscapes that span from the 16th to 20th centuries. According to the foundation, the brochure's purpose is to “help make Korean paintings' artistic and cultural value more accessible to the general public and researchers.”

The foundation was able to publish the brochure thanks to the donation made by RM in 2022. The boy band leader had made a previous donation to the foundation in 2021. In both instances, he gave 100 million won ($68,000) in the hopes of preserving overseas art related to Korean heritage.

The brochure contains high-resolution images of Korean paintings — currently housed in the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and more — accompanied by descriptions. It will be distributed to public libraries and major research institutions in Korea and abroad to act as a useful educational resource.

“Traditional paintings are invaluable cultural relics that express the aesthetic sensibility and spirit of the Korean people,” Kwak Chang-yong, the secretary general of the foundation, said in a release on Wednesday. “This brochure reminds us of the beauty and depth of Korean paintings by showcasing 24 works located outside of Korea.”

Regarding RM's donation, Kwak said, “As suggested by the brochure's title, the paintings are more than cultural relics; they are a cultural bridge between Korea and the world. Its publication is made even more notable by the generous support of RM, whose deep interest in and great respect for Korean culture adds greater meaning to the occasion.”

″Snowscape with Figures″ (1584) by artist Kim Si, currently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art in the United States, is seen in this photo. It is one of the works included in the newly published art catalogue, the name of which translates to ″IT’S ____ HERE: Korean Paintings Shining Abroad.″ [OVERSEAS KOREAN CULTURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION]

BY JIN EUN-SOO [[email protected]]