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

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 the Daedongyeojido (Great Map of the East Land), 19th-century maps of Seoul, a late Joseon national map, and astronomical works such as the 1395 Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido, a celestial chart created during King Taejo’s reign. These rare materials offer a unique opportunity to view historical maps rarely accessible to the public.

 

Through the lecture, KCCoC aims to deepen public understanding of these works and highlight their historical and scholarly significance. The program also seeks to broaden awareness of Korean history and culture beyond the Korean American community.

 

The lecture and reception are free and open to the public. The exhibition runs through August 31 and is expected to enhance appreciation of Korea’s cartographic heritage in the U.S., extending its value beyond a private collection into a significant public and scholarly resource.

 

Special Lecture and Reception

  • Lecture: Maps of Joseon Korea
  • Lecturer: Dr. Richard A. Pegg (Asian Art Director and curator of the MacLean Collection Asian Art Museum and Map Library)
  • Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 2:30 PM