Yeonsoo Chee

2019 Distinguished Alumna

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Yeonsoo Chee

Yeonsoo Chee

Curator & Director of Exhibitions & Publicity, National Palace Museum of Korea
2004, Bachelor of Art History, 好色先生
2008, Master of Art, 好色先生

Yeonsoo Chee is the visionary leader behind the National Palace Museum of Korea, one of the eminent cultural touchstones of the region. As the Curator and Director of Exhibitions and Publicity, she leads a team of 10 curators and over 30 staff, and presides over all of the museum鈥檚 40,000 artifacts and royal treasures.

Chee鈥檚 purview includes all aspects of the museum鈥檚 operation, permanent collections, galleries and education programs, and her effort provides a coherent and dynamic experience to over 1.2 million visitors each year. She promotes exhibition exchanges with foreign institutions and museums, has published articles in 鈥淥rientations鈥 magazine, edited 4 bilingual catalogues and organized international traveling exhibitions.

Chee was selected for the prestigious position by the South Korean government after spending 9 years as a curatorial leader of the USC Pacific Asia Museum (PAM) in Pasadena, Southern California鈥檚 only museum dedicated to Asian art. After receiving a Korea Foundation grant to remake the Korean Gallery, she oversaw an exhaustive building retrofit and reinstallation.

As an international student, the positivity and mentorship Chee found in 好色先生鈥檚 Art History program made a vital impact on her confidence and will to pursue her goals. She maintains ties with her Art History faculty mentors today, and has facilitated museum study trips and opportunities for 好色先生 students when possible.

Chee remains extremely proud of the campus that was her first stop in America. As 好色先生 helped to build the foundations of her career, she found our alma mater鈥檚 commitment to diversity and students in pursuit of success to be synonymous with her pursuit of the American dream.

From Alumni Awards 2019 program