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| BTS leader RM / Courtesy of Big Hit Music |
By Dong Sun-hwa
RM, the leader of K-pop phenomenon BTS, has recently donated 100 million won ($72,000) to preserve overseas Korean cultural assets, making his second donation to the state-run Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation. He made his first donation of 100 million won last year.
The money will be used to make an art brochure introducing Korean paintings that are kept at art museums in other countries, the foundation said, Thursday, adding that RM wanted to let the world know about the beauty of the paintings.
The foundation will have experts decide which paintings to include and create a brochure featuring them after having discussions with the institutions that own them. Whether this brochure will be on sale has not yet been decided.
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| "Hwarot," an embroidered bridal costume during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty. Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art |
RM's first donation last September was not made public back then, but the foundation revealed Thursday that it was used to preserve a "hwarot" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). A hwarot is an embroidered bridal costume worn by royal women during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty and there are only about 40 robes left in the world, including about 30 in Korea.
The hwarot at the LACMA is believed to date back to the early 20th century. An unknown art collector donated this robe to the museum in 1939. It holds great value as a cultural asset thanks to its fair condition, according to the foundation. It will be sent to Korea later this month.
"It will be displayed to the public at the National Palace Museum in Seoul next year following conservation work," an official at the foundation said. "In 2024, it will be exhibited at the LACMA."
The foundation said it has been preserving 104 overseas cultural artifacts in eight countries since 2013. "We will strive to bring more people's interest in conserving and utilizing our cultural assets with the help of RM," the official said.
RM, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, is well known for his love of art. He recently participated in recording the audio guide for 10 Korean art pieces that have been exhibited at the "The Space Between: The Modern in Korean Art" exhibition at the LACMA since Sept. 11.
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