Unfolding Koreanness: Exhibition Opening & Talk

Join us to celebrate the opening of Unfolding Koreanness, a new exhibition exploring migration, identity, and cultural adaptation!

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) invites you to the opening reception of Unfolding Koreanness: Exploring Identity in the Age of Migration, a multidisciplinary group exhibition curated by Sang Dae Lee, winner of the KCCDC Open Call for Artists and the 2024 American Prize for Architecture. This exhibition explores the fluid and evolving nature of Korean identity in an era of migration, featuring six artists and cultural practitioners working across music, media art, documentary, photography, architecture, and textiles.

The exhibition features six distinct artists from across the United States: Gayageum musician Hwayoung Shon, media artist Inhye Lee, documentary filmmaker Miriam Kim, linguist and photographer Robert J. Fouser, architect Sung Goo Yang, and textile artist Wonju Seo. Each offers a unique interpretation of Koreanness, reflecting on their personal and collective journeys. Through a diverse range of works—including a gayageum-inspired installation, reinterpreted hanbok and jogakbo textiles, and a documentary reflecting on belonging—Unfolding Koreanness examines how migration shapes personal and collective identity. As transnational boundaries blur, the exhibition presents a dialogue on navigating cultural heritage in new environments.

The opening reception features talks by Curator Sang Dae Lee and featured artist and scholar Robert J. Fouser. Fouser, a linguist and photographer, will share his insights on language, cultural adaptation, and the evolving meaning of Koreanness in global contexts. Guests will have the opportunity to engage with the curator and a participating artist, fostering conversations on identity, diaspora, and the intersections of tradition and contemporary experience.

This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Light refreshments provided. Unfolding Koreanness remains on view from Friday, March 14 through Saturday, May 3, 2025 during regular KCCDC hours.

For much more information on the exhibition, artists, curator, and additional special viewing times, .

Host or Publisher Korean Cultural Center DC