A ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the State Hermitage Museum and Artworks Co. Ltd., representing the Republic of Korea, took place at the General Staff Building of the State Hermitage Museum. The event was held as part of the XI St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum.
On behalf of the State Hermitage Museum, the memorandum was signed by Director General Mikhail Piotrovsky. On behalf of the Korean company Artworks Co. Ltd., it was signed by CEO Yoo Min-Seok.
The new agreement continues the Hermitage’s strategy to develop cultural ties with the countries of the Far East. A key element of this program is the “Hermitage–Vladivostok” center based at the Primorye State Art Gallery, which regularly hosts large-scale Hermitage Days and exhibitions from the museum’s collection. Another important area is the dialogue with contemporary art of East Asia: since 2022, the gallery has successfully presented exhibitions introducing Russian audiences to contemporary Korean artists.
The document will serve as the foundation for a long-term strategic partnership whose main goal is to open satellite centers of the State Hermitage Museum in the Republic of Korea.
The partnership envisions two museum representations. The “Hermitage–Jeju” center will focus on developing a digital museum environment. Its activities will include organizing multimedia exhibitions, implementing NFT projects, creating digital exhibition halls, and developing innovative digital content dedicated to the Hermitage’s collection. The “Hermitage–Seoul/Seongnam” center will promote the Hermitage’s heritage in Korea through educational programs. It will host a specialized school, a lecture hall, and exhibition spaces for temporary displays and digital projects.
The first stage of cooperation will be the multimedia exhibition “The Magnificent Hermitage” in Seoul. The Republic of Korea is one of the world’s most technologically advanced countries. The high-tech format of the project—already appreciated by Russian audiences—will resonate with Korean visitors accustomed to innovation and who regard digital art as an integral part of the cultural landscape.
Visitors will see digital replicas of works that occupy central places in the Hermitage’s permanent displays—many of which have never left the museum’s walls. Thanks to 3D mapping, AV installations, holograms, and artificial intelligence, audiences will be able to discover Hermitage masterpieces far from St. Petersburg. The opening of the exhibition, first presented to the public in Nizhny Novgorod a year ago and immediately embraced by audiences, is scheduled for November 2025.
The signing of the memorandum reflects the parties’ shared commitment to expanding cultural dialogue between Russia and the Republic of Korea and to actively developing digital technologies in the museum sphere. The cooperation will include joint educational, cultural, and scholarly programs.