Lee Byung-hun captivates British Museum with 164 national treasures from '2000 Years of Creativity' unveiled for first time

The spirit of 'K-heritage' resonates in the heart of Britain

Actor 'Lee Byung-hun' will serve as the sole narrator for a special exhibition at the 'British Museum', one of the world's most prestigious cultural institutions. BH Entertainment, Lee's agency, officially announced on the 23rd that he will introduce Korean aesthetics to visitors from around the world at 'Korea: A Journey of 2000 Years of Creativity', an exhibition being held in London.

The project is a landmark exhibition jointly organized by the 'National Museum of Korea', the 'National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea', and the British Museum. It builds on the historical significance of the 2022 special exhibition 'An Invitation from a Collector', which was held to commemorate the vast cultural heritage donated to the nation in 2021 by the family of late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

The exhibition is also impressive in scale and quality. A total of 164 objects from 79 selections carefully chosen by the National Museum of Korea, along with 15 works of modern and contemporary art from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, will travel to Britain to present a multidimensional look at the 2000-year trajectory of Korean culture and the arts.

The exhibition will also mark the first time that the national treasure 'Daegu Bisan-dong Bronze Artifact' and the traditional folk painting 'Magpie and Tiger' are shown on the global stage. 'Magpie and Tiger' directly inspired Duffy, the tiger, and Seo, the magpie, popular characters in the Netflix original animated series 'KPop Demon Hunters', illustrating a striking crossover between tradition and contemporary pop culture.

'Lee Byung-hun' will use his distinctive, resonant baritone and nuanced emotional delivery to bring to life the stories embedded in the 164 artifacts. Through his agency, he offered a brief but powerful reflection: "It is an honor to take part in an event that showcases Korea's beauty, and I hope you will show it a great deal of interest. I will see you in London."

The special exhibition 'Korea: A Journey of 2000 Years of Creativity', which has drawn the attention of the global art world, opens on Oct. 1 and will welcome visitors at the British Museum in London through Jan. 31, 2027.