This workshop examines the history and significance of Korean objects held in UK institutions, and their role in shaping contemporary understandings of Korean cultural heritage. Beginning in the 1880s, institutions acquired a wide variety of items from the Korean peninsula, ranging in type from ceramics, paintings, and textiles, to books and plant specimens. The workshop highlights the acquisition and display histories of these artefacts, focusing on the contributions of lesser-known collectors and often overlooked objects to offer fresh perspectives on Korean collections in the UK. It also examines the interconnected nature of these collections by analysing cross-institutional acquisition patterns. Building on prior research, the workshop provides new insights into UK-Korea relations and the broader role of cultural objects in shaping national representation and identity.
This workshop is funded by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (OKCHF), and forms part of a 12-month research project led by Charlotte Horlyck titled Collecting Korea, 1880-1930: A Provenance Research Project of Early Korean Collections in UK Institutions.
| 12:00 | Registration and lunch (Room G3, next to DLT) |
| 12:45 | Opening speech Charlotte Horlyck (SOAS) |
| 13:00 | Presentation 1 Beth McKillop (Victoria and Albert Museum) |
| 13:30 | Presentation 2 Jiyeon Wood (Cambridge University Library) |
| 14:00 | Presentation 3 Charlotte Horlyck |
| 14:30 | Tea and coffee break |
| 15:00 | Presentation 4 Seunghye Sun and Jaemin Cha (Korean Cultural Centre UK) |
| 15:30 | Presentation 5 Erin Messenger and Gayathri Anand (Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew) |
| 16:00 | Presentation 6 Jess Son (SOAS, University of London) |
| 16:30 | Open discussion and concluding remarks |