The Samsung Foundation of Culture has been awarded the Grand Prize at the 2025 Mecenat Awards, hosted by the Korea Mecenat Association, marking a triumphant return to the top honor after a 26-year gap. This prestigious recognition represents the foundation's second win in the awards' history, cementing its position as a leading patron of the arts in South Korea.
Established in 1965, the Samsung Foundation of Culture was recognized for its outstanding contribution to broadening Korea's cultural landscape and enhancing the global presence of Korean arts. The foundation has played a pivotal role in promoting Korean culture both domestically and internationally through various initiatives and programs spanning multiple decades.
The foundation operates two major cultural institutions: the renowned Leeum Museum of Art and the Hoam Museum of Art, both of which serve as important venues for showcasing Korean and international art. Beyond these flagship museums, the foundation has been actively supporting Korean artists' creative development abroad for 28 years through its Cite Residency Program, which provides artists with the opportunity to live and work in Paris, one of the world's most influential art capitals.
The foundation's commitment to nurturing artistic talent extends across diverse fields through several specialized programs. These include a classical instrument loan program that provides access to high-quality instruments, the Samsung Music Fellowship that supports emerging musicians, a piano tone meister training initiative that develops technical expertise in piano craftsmanship, and ongoing support for the World Pansori Association, which preserves and promotes this traditional Korean musical storytelling art form.
This year's victory holds special significance as the Samsung Foundation of Culture previously received the same prestigious award at the inaugural Mecenat Awards ceremony in 1999, making it one of the most consistent and long-standing contributors to Korea's cultural development over the past quarter-century.
Several other organizations and individuals were recognized at this year's awards ceremony. The Culture Contribution Award was presented to Chong Kun Dang Holdings in recognition of more than a decade of dedicated support for painters and opera outreach programs that have helped make classical music more accessible to broader audiences.
Kim Young-ho, chairman and CEO of Ilshin Spinning Co., received the Mecenat Leader Award for his personal commitment to supporting numerous arts organizations and festivals. His patronage has been instrumental in the success of several major cultural events, including the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music, Music in PyeongChang, and the Tongyeong International Music Festival, all of which have become important fixtures in Korea's cultural calendar.
Additional honors were distributed among other deserving recipients. The Creativity Award was presented to the MetLife Korea Foundation for its innovative approaches to arts support, while the Arts & Business Award was jointly awarded to the National Credit Union Federation of Korea and the Traditional Korean Music Arts Center for their collaborative efforts in nurturing future gugak talent and preserving traditional Korean music.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday at the Westin Josun Seoul as part of the 2025 Korea Mecenat Conference. This annual gathering serves as an important platform for promoting corporate arts partnerships and raising public interest in arts sponsorship, bringing together business leaders, cultural organizations, and arts advocates to discuss the future of cultural patronage in Korea.
