Korean Contemporary Art, Culture, and Media Endowed Professorship Established at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

CHICAGO–The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) received a $1.5 million grant from the Korea Foundation to establish a $3 million-endowed professorship in Korean Contemporary Art, Culture, and Media. This full-time tenured or tenure-track position will deepen and expand SAIC’s long-term commitment to Korean studies. 

SAIC will integrate the professor’s work into public-facing programs, fostering a deeper understanding of and appreciation for Korea’s cultural contributions beyond the classroom. From exhibitions to curated film series and symposia, Korean arts and media will gain a prominent, lasting platform at one of the world’s most influential colleges of art and design in one of the world’s most vibrant creative cities. 

With this gift, the Korea Foundation expands on their support of the Art Institute of Chicago organization. Recently, the Korea Foundation Endowed Associate Curator of Korean Art was established at the Art Institute of Chicago museum. The inaugural position is held by Yeousoo Chee, who also serves as a lecturer at SAIC. Additionally, the Korea Foundation provided support for  the museum’s gallery for the art of Korea. This new professorship represents a pivotal step toward institutionalizing Korean contemporary art and media as core areas of research and instruction. 

SAIC President Jiseon Lee Isbara said, “The Korea Foundation’s generous investment in SAIC reflects the prominence of the global character of the School’s student body in the 21st century, the immense scope of the Art Institute of Chicago’s encyclopedic collection, and the prominence of Korean culture in the Midwestern United States today.”

The new professor will also partner with colleagues across the organization at the Art Institute of Chicago, SAIC’s Siskel Film Center, and SAIC Galleries, to offer exhibitions, lectures, film, and other programming to bring forth Korean visual culture. 

“The Korea Foundation is thrilled to support SAIC in establishing this professorship,” said Guido Song, President of the Korea Foundation. “This gift ensures that Korean studies at the School—and in Chicago—continue to grow and thrive for many years to come.” 

The search for the new Korean Contemporary Art, Culture, and Media professorship will begin soon, to be filled by summer 2027. 

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
For 160 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program ranked number two among art and design colleges by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world, and adults, teens, and kids in our Continuing Studies classes have the opportunity to explore their creative sides, build portfolios, and advance their skills. Notable alumni and faculty include Georgia O’Keeffe, Nick Cave, David Sedaris, Cynthia Rowley, Michelle Grabner, Richard Hunt, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Jeff Koons.