MBK Partners chairman continues to donate to NYC's Met

MBK Partners Founder and Chairman Michael Byungju Kim made another donation to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, following a $10 million donation last year.

This year's donation coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Arts of Korea gallery within the museum. He joined the Korean art initiatives supported by the Korea Foundation and Samsung Foundation of Culture, which aim at strengthening Korean art exhibitions and education programs.

The funds contributed by Kim will be used to build a Korean art collection at the museum. Kim, who is also a member of the Met Trustee, donated $10 million last year for the renovation and reopening of the modern and contemporary art galleries.

As part of the Korean art initiatives, the museum also established the Korea Foundation and Samsung Foundation of Culture Curatorship for Korean Art. Eleanor Soo-ah Hyun was appointed as the position’s first incumbent. Collaborative scholarships and educational programming for Korean art will also get support.

Max Hollein, CEO of the Met, said that the donation from Kim and his wife, Park Kyung-ah, will further enhance the museum's collection of Korean art. He also expressed gratitude to the two foundations, which have been long-time supporters of the Met because of their contributions to sharing the art of Korea to a global audience.

Kim said that the Korean art pieces housed at the Met are of a world-class standard. “We are honored to support a world-class collection of Korean art at the Met to share with its global audience,” Kim said.

The Met has been operating the Arts of Korea gallery with the support of the Korea Foundation and the Samsung Foundation of Culture since 1998, regularly hosting exhibitions of Korean art pieces.