Ancient Korean Culture & Architecture
Key information
- Date
- Time
-
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
- Venue
- Senate House, SOAS University of London
- Room
- Senate Chamber (S219)
- Event type
- Lecture
About this event
In this lecture, Director You Hong-june will explore the distinctive characteristics of ancient Korean culture and architecture through major archaeological sites, works of art, Buddhist monuments, temples and royal architecture.
Beginning with Korea's prehistory and the Three Kingdoms period, he will examine the material cultures of Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla and Gaya, including tomb murals, pottery, gold crowns, Buddhist reliquaries and sculpture, and will trace the development of Korean Buddhist art and architecture, with particular attention to Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa Temple, stone pagodas and the mountain temple tradition.
He will also consider the aesthetic principles that have shaped Korean artistic and architectural traditions, specifically the aesthetic principle of being "humble yet dignified, splendid yet not extravagant," and will consider how Korean architecture has evolved through a close relationship with the natural environment.
Offering insight into Korea's cultural heritage, the lecture will highlight the origins and identity of Korean culture, which continue to attract attention from around the world.
Speaker: You Hong-june, Director of the National Museum of Korea.
About the speaker
You Hong-june is Director of the National Museum of Korea (July 2025-present). He previously served as Chairperson of the K Cultural Powerhouse Committee and the Academy of Korean Studies, as well as Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea. Over a distinguished academic career, he held professorial and leadership roles at Myongji University and Yeungnam University.
In 1981, You Hong-june received the Dong-a Ilbo Spring Literary Contest Award for Art Criticism and, in 1984, served as a commissioner of the first Gwangju Biennale. He has published numerous influential works on Korean art and cultural heritage, including the My Cultural Heritage Exploration series and Story of Korean Art. He holds a BA in Aesthetics from Seoul National University, an MA in Art History from Hongik University, and a PhD in East Asian Philosophy from Sungkyunkwan University.
