Yoo Hong-jun, Director of
the National Museum of Korea ©New1
Yoo
Hong-jun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, has published two
introductory books on Korean art history for the general public and
international readers: “Korean Art History for Everyone (모두를
위한 한국미술사)” and “Korean Art History for Foreign Readers (외국인을
위한 한국미술사)”.
“Korean
Art History for Everyone” is a concise version of his six-volume series “Story
of Korean Art” (2010–2023). This comprehensive overview traces the history of
Korean art from the Paleolithic era to the Joseon dynasty, written in accessible
language that allows anyone to follow the development of art alongside Korean
history.
Published
alongside it, “Korean Art History for Foreign Readers” is organized by
genre—including architecture, sculpture, painting, and crafts—and is specifically
designed for readers who may not be familiar with Korean history or geography.
Director Yoo remarked, “My intention was to highlight the distinct identity of
Korean art in comparison with China and Japan. Korean art is a proud cultural
shareholder in the history of East Asian art.” The book will also be published
in English, Chinese, and Japanese translations.
Yoo Hong-jun, Director of
the National Museum of Korea ©New1
Regarding
the publication, Director Yoo stated, “I have long believed that Korea needed a
book like Ernst Gombrich’s “The Story of Art” or H. W. Janson’s “History of
Art.” I didn’t want this to be a book you read at a desk with a pen in hand,
but rather one you could enjoy comfortably while leaning back on a sofa.”
He
added, “As K-culture spreads across the globe, I wanted to write about the
significance of Korean art, which lies at the very root of K-culture.”
