Written by: Warwick Morris  |  Posted on: June 17th, 2016

16 members of the Society including your Chairman, efficiently marshalled by Hee Yu Lee in Sylvia Park’s rare absence, were met and expertly guided for over an hour by Eleanor Soo-ah Hyun, the Museum’s first full time Curator for Korean Collections.

Eleanor, who came from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, led us round the Korea Foundation Gallery, outlining changes made and planned, and selecting and describing a number of items on display. These included ceramics from different eras, including the famous Moon Jar, of course, explaining their different glazes and styles. We also had a good look at the traditional Korean house, which is to undergo some refurbishment, and saw the famous Korean roof tile that was among the former Director’s ‘100 Best Objects.’ Eleanor took pains to answer all our questions and, before we left, also showed us Room 1, called Enlightenment. This one of the Museum’s first rooms, kept in a more traditional style and showing the early thinking behind collections and their display.

Bi Won Restaurant

Most of us, Eleanor included, then moved to the Bi Won restaurant in nearby Coptic Street for an enjoyable Korean meal. Not only do we thank Sylvia for arranging this and Eleanor for being so generous with her time and knowledge, but also I am happy to report that she has since joined the BKS as a member! She encourages us to visit the Korea Gallery regularly, as items on display will be changed more often, and expressed willingness to lead further tours in the future.

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