"Portrait of Lee Yuwon" Unveiled for the First Time... National Museum of Korea Opens New Donated Artifacts Exhibition
by Kim Heeyun
Published 20 Apr.2026 20:45(KST)
Nine Artifacts from the Gyeongju Lee Family Donated Last Year on Display
Additional Exhibitions Scheduled for July and November This Year
The National Museum of Korea announced on April 20 that it will host the exhibition "Sharing the Heart of Beauty: Newly Acquired Donated Artifacts" in Donation Hall 4 of the permanent exhibition galleries through July 19. This exhibition introduces the museum's latest donated cultural heritage.
This is the first exhibition in a new series showcasing donated artifacts at the museum. For the first time, nine pieces of cultural heritage donated by Lee Yeon, a descendant of the Gyeongju Lee clan, in December last year will be unveiled to the public.
The highlight of the exhibition is the "Portrait of Lee Yuwon," painted in 1860 by the Joseon-era artist Han-cheol Lee. Previously known only through historical records, the actual portrait will be on public display for the first time during this exhibition.
In the portrait, Lee Yuwon is depicted wearing everyday clothing and traditional wooden shoes, holding a cane while seated on a fantastically shaped rock. The piece features a realistic and vivid portrayal, with a composition distinct from typical portraits of Joseon aristocrats.
The exhibition also includes a preparatory sketch of Lee Yuwon's portrait from 1870, as well as preliminary drawings of his grandfather Seokyu Lee and fourth-generation ancestor Jongbaek Lee. Additionally, visitors can view royal calligraphy and official responses bestowed by King Gojong.
Gulsan Lee Yuwon was a high-ranking official who served as Chief State Councillor in the late Joseon Dynasty and was the ninth-generation descendant of Prime Minister Lee Hangbok from the mid-Joseon period. According to the museum, Lee Yuwon dedicated himself to organizing and preserving ancient documents and artworks handed down within his family, and his descendants protected these treasures through times of war and evacuation.
This donation was made to carry on the legacy of their ancestors and to share the family's heritage with a wider audience. This marks the third occasion that descendants of Lee Hangbok have donated to the National Museum of Korea.
To date, the National Museum of Korea has received 51,623 cultural heritage items from approximately 320 donors. The museum plans to unveil additional newly donated artifacts in July and November this year.
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