Blog – KCCoC

“Minhwa (Korean folk paintings) in a New Medium: From BTS to K-Pop Demon Hunters”

‘민화 民畫, 경계를 넘다: BTS에서 케데헌까지’ 특별 강연 The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago (KCCoC) will host “Minhwa in a New Medium: From BTS to K-Pop Demon Hunters.” This captivating session will delve into the symbolic world of Minhwa (Korean folk paintings) from the Joseon Dynasty, exploring its profound meanings and its vibrant resurgence in modern global culture. From BTS music videos to K-Pop Demon Hunters and K-culture, discover how these traditional motifs continue to shape the aesthetic of today’s Hallyu wave. This lecture explores the historical significance of Korean folk painting (Minhwa) and how it is being reinterpreted in contemporary popular culture, including...

Event, K-Children’s Day, NewsBy KCCoC

The 4th KCCoC Student Art Contest

The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago (KCCoC) is excited to announce the return of its 4th Student Art Contest, themed “Sketch Korea in Chicago”! Join us on Saturday, May 2, from 10 AM to 5 PM at the KCCoC campus for a full day of creativity, culture, and fun. Returning for the first time in five years since 2021, this special event celebrates Korean Children’s Day by inviting students to enjoy a picnic-like atmosphere while expressing their creativity and artistic talents inspired by Korean culture. Open to all K–12 students across the Midwest, this competition offers a meaningful opportunity for...

Exhibitions, News, Visual ArtsBy KCCoC

Minhwa: Paintings of Hope and Wishes

Members of the Chicago Minhwa Studio will present an exhibition titled “Minhwa: Paintings of Hope and Wishes” at the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago Gallery from May 11 to June 3. This exhibition showcases traditional Korean folk paintings (minhwa), which reflect the hopes and values of everyday life—such as good fortune, harmony, and health. Rooted in the wisdom of past generations, minhwa is characterized by its warm spirit, vibrant imagination, and free-spirited, creative aesthetics. Through these works, we invite visitors to experience a sense of comfort and inspiration, while sharing in the timeless wishes for happiness and well-being expressed through Korean art....

News, Performing ArtsBy KCCoC

BISCO Performing Arts Series Selected Production “Bluebird Project”

비스코 퍼포밍 아트 시리즈 선정작 “블루버드 프로젝트” The classical ensemble Bluebird Project has been selected as a winner of the 2025 BISCO Performing Series, organized by the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago. Bluebird Project is a chamber ensemble distinguished by its unique instrumentation of violin, cello, piano, percussion, and baritone. The group brings together accomplished musicians who have been active as soloists, orchestral players, and chamber artists in their respective fields, presenting a wide-ranging repertoire that bridges tradition and modernity, as well as Eastern and Western musical traditions. The first half of the program will feature a violin and...

Field Trip On-SiteBy KCCoC

‘Intrinsic School’ Field Trip

문화원 필드트립, 인트린직 고등학교 Mar. 18 Students from Intrinsic High School, along with their teachers, visited the KCCoC. They toured the museum’s Maps of Joseon Korea exhibition and the contemporary Korean ceramics exhibition, and explored the gallery and library. At BISCO Hall, they experienced traditional crafts, including making a gat (traditional Korean hat), practicing calligraphy to write their names in Hangul, and trying on hanbok. 인트린직 고등학교 학생들과 지도교사들이 문화원을 견학하였다. 박물관의 ‘조선의 지도’ 전시, 현대 도자기 전시를 관람하고, 갤러리와 도서관을 견학하였다. 비스코 홀에서 갓 만들기 공예와 붓글씨로 한글 이름쓰기, 한복을 체험하였다.

Exhibitions, Visual ArtsBy KCCoC

“Harmony in Korean Art” Exhibition

Wo-ah Art founding Exhibition Exhibition: April 3-15, 2026 at Korean Cultural Center of Chicago Gallery 9925 Capitol Dr., Wheeling, IL Opening Reception: April 4, 2026, at 5 PM 우아아트 창립전 한인 예술가 단체로 다양한 분야의 미술을 자신만의 취향으로 성장하여 아름다운 우리 문화를 미주 사회에 알리려고 창립된 단체입니다.

NewsBy KCCoC

KCCoC Museum Special Exhibition “Maps of Joseon Korea” Lecture & Reception

The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago (KCCoC) will host a special lecture and reception on April 19 (Sunday), featuring curator Richard A. Pegg, in conjunction with its ongoing exhibition “Maps of Joseon Korea”, which opened on March 6. The exhibition presents 12 Joseon Dynasty maps on loan from the MacLean Collection Asian Art Museum and Map Library in Lake Forest, Illinois, curated by Dr. Pegg, Asian Art Director of the collection. The MacLean Collection is a private institution specializing in Asian art and cartographic materials, operating as both a private collection and a research-oriented exhibition space. Highlights include...

NewsBy KCCoC

Special Lecture by Yoo Hong June, Director of the National Museum of Korea

The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago (KCCOC) successfully hosted a special lecture by Dr. Yoo Hong June, Director of the National Museum of Korea, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at BISCO Hall, drawing enthusiastic interest from the local community. The lecture, titled “The Power of Korean History and the Uniqueness of Korean Culture,” filled BISCO Hall with an engaged audience, demonstrating the community’s strong interest in the value and foundations of Korean culture. Dr. Yoo, a leading authority in Korean art history and author of My Cultural Heritage Tour, provided insightful perspectives on the identity of Korean cultural heritage...

Exhibitions, News, Visual ArtsBy KCCoC

‘Maps of Joseon Korea’ KCCoC Museum Special Exhibition

‘조선의 지도’ 문화원 박물관 특별전 During the late Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), cartography and the production of maps in general became widespread in Korea. Many presentation formats were created at that time, including those found in this exhibition: screens, rubbings, sheet maps, and atlases in various sizes. The exhibition presents 12 Joseon Dynasty maps on loan from the MacLean Collection Asian Art Museum and Map Library in Lake Forest, Illinois, curated by Dr. Pegg, Asian Art Director of the collection. The MacLean Collection is a private institution specializing in Asian art and cartographic materials, operating as both a private...

News, Performing ArtsBy KCCoC

BISCO Performing Arts Series Selected Production “Chunhyang”

Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago Korean Traditional Music Concert <The Story of Chunhyang: 음악으로 듣는 춘향> This performance reinterprets key scenes from <Chunhyangjeon> through Korean traditional music, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the timeless and emotionally rich story of Chunhyang. 시카고한인문화원 비스코 퍼포밍 아트 시리즈의 그 두번째 공연은 시카고 한국전통 예술원의 공연으로 열린다. 문화원은 2025년 봄 공모를 통하여 예술가들이 자유롭게 창작할 수 있는 플랫폼을 제공하고 비스코 홀의 공연문화를 활성화할 수 있는 당선작을 선정하였다. 본 공연은 <춘향전>의 주요 장면들을 국악으로 풀어낸 음악 공연으로, 오랜 세월 전해 내려온 춘향의 애절하면서도 깊은 울림의 이야기를 한국 전통음악을 통해 감상하실 수 있는 뜻깊은...