World Jewellery Museum in Seoul

World Jewellery Museum
THE JEWEL OF SEOUL

A journey through the history of jewellery through the museum’s collections.

It is a great pleasure for The Jewellery Traveller to present an exclusive interview with Elaine Kim, the director of a unique museum in Seoul, South Korea, that houses jewels from different historical periods from every corner of the world.

Elaine’s and her mother’s, Lee Kangwon, passion for jewellery inspired them to start a collection that includes 3,500 unique pieces today, celebrating exceptional craftsmanship and cultural significance.

Our conversation explores their journey of establishing the museum, the vision of the founders, as well as their important cultural contribution to the world of jewellery on a global level.

1. How did you start your amazing journey in establishing this unique museum?

Born with a passion for jewellery which can be traced back to her grandmother, who was one of the royal consorts of the last king of the Joseon Dynasty, Lee Kangwon learned at a young age from her family that jewellery is more than something we wear. It is an art of self-discovery that nourishes one’s soul to grow in order to better understand ourselves and the world.

After witnessing the looting of her own family’s royal heirloom jewellery collection during the Korean War, Lee felt a deep calling to preserve jewellery treasures across different cultures and eras as her husband’s diplomatic missions took them around the world. In the last 55 years, she has travelled to over one hundred countries and gained first-hand knowledge of how people keep their ancestral roots alive through the materials, designs, and symbolism of their body adornment. In Eternal Jewels: A Collector’s Journey, Lee shares these pivotal moments in her life that inspired her to expand her reach, which defined her jewellery collection.

After she retired from her role as an ambassador’s spouse, Lee’s lifelong dream of establishing a museum exclusively devoted to jewellery came true. When she founded the World Jewellery Museum (WJM) in Seoul in 2004, it was the first jewellery museum in Asia, home to over 3,500 pieces celebrating diverse aesthetics, craftsmanship, and cultural significance.

The WJM is 100% private, independently operated by the family, not affiliated with any organization, and does not receive any government funding. The two co-directors are Lee Kangwon and Elaine Kim.

2. What is your overarching vision for the World Jewellery Museum, and how has it evolved since you became director?

The mission of the World Jewellery Museum is to collect, preserve, and exhibit works of jewellery from diverse cultural identities from past and present around the world, and in doing so foster the understanding of beauty, heritage, and values of various nations and people.

Since 2004, the WJM has organized over forty temporary exhibitions highlighting the concept of jewellery, which is not just about luxury, power, and social status, but also about self-expression filled with private memories, desires, and hopes. It strives to bring these varied cultural impulses together in a single place, allowing them to interact and create new connections.

Designed by an award-winning Korean architect, the museum architecture celebrates the synergy between past and present, making the WJM a dynamic part of the ancient Bukchon’s ongoing story. The museum has 250 square meters of floor space, maintaining the domestic scale and intimate environment of the various Korean ambassadors’ residences where Lee initially displayed her collection. Even then, Lee aimed to show that jewellery creates meaningful connections across cultural and religious landscapes, and this idea formed the foundation of WJM.

As Lee Kangwon’s daughter, I share a personal bond with my mother’s jewellery collection, which has profoundly influenced the way I think about culture and tradition. Growing up in eight countries and exposed to diverse cultures, I have seen how the transformative force of jewellery touches the deepest parts of our souls and captures the beauty of the world around us.

To amplify that magic for visitors, technology serves as a dynamic tool to bring the jewellery displays to life, enabling us to transcend time, culture, and language barriers. We are currently digitizing our collection and adding interactive technology and displays so that visitors can connect with the stories personally.

The collection is organized around the central question: what is the meaning of jewellery and why do humans wear it? Displayed in nine galleries, each gallery is designed around a theme such as Beauty, Faith, Love, Magic, Power, Protection, Identity, and Nature.

While the concept of the permanent exhibition remains, the display constantly evolves through rotating objects to keep the visitor experience fresh. For example, there is always something new to see in the “Jewellery Garden,” composed of nine display cases unveiling special items usually hidden from public view.

The WJM recently introduced a new addition to the permanent collection, which is the only permanent display of contemporary Canadian jewellery outside North America.

3. How do you ensure that each collection’s cultural context is accurately represented and ethically sourced?

The WJM implements thorough provenance research for potential acquisitions and follows strict guidelines for accepting donations. It maintains comprehensive records documenting the object’s origin, function, and cultural significance.

Information gathered from historical documents, oral histories, specialists, and community input provides a rich context that goes beyond the jewel’s aesthetic value.

The WJM’s guided tours provide broad contextual information, transforming learning from passive viewing into active participation, promoting cultural dialogue and visitor engagement.

Digital initiatives also provide co-creation activities between audiences and curators, enabling increased access and diverse perspectives. As museums expand beyond their traditional roles, they increasingly serve as platforms for stimulating creative and critical thinking, contributing to the dynamic evolution of cultural heritage.

4. How do you communicate the deeper cultural meanings behind jewellery to visitors who may see it primarily as ornament?

The core mission of the WJM is to explore jewellery’s rich heritage as an expression of diverse cultural and social values connected to adorning the body.

For Lee Kangwon, who is also a poet, storytelling is an essential part of how the permanent collection is presented. The human stories behind the jewellery show how it activates both the physical body and the spiritual mind, becoming a place where human relationships come together.

The museum strives to go beyond simply presenting jewellery by weaving stories of the wearers and makers into the visually striking displays. Through lighting, colour, layout, and original showcases, the exhibitions evoke emotional and relatable experiences, transforming the galleries into a journey through the story of jewellery — and even an internal journey of self-discovery through art.

As visitors move from one gallery to the next, each space has a distinct mood and sense of transformation. Over the years, the WJM has earned the reputation as the “Jewel of Seoul” for creating dynamic, creative spaces for meditation on beauty and light, such as the “Jewellery Forest,” “Beads Columns,” and “Ring DNA.”

Visitors are drawn to the museum’s innovative aesthetic approach and its focus on self-expression, craftsmanship, and creativity within a broad socio-cultural historical narrative.

5. What are the biggest conservation challenges for jewellery pieces that use mixed materials?

Providing intensive, one-on-one care for each piece in the collection is one of the WJM’s main goals. The use of mixed materials in jewellery complicates conservation and handling, as it may cause unexpected deterioration.

Each piece requires specific display and storage conditions based on its materials, physical condition, and environmental history. In general, temperature and humidity are maintained according to the most sensitive component.

Additional measures include turning off lights when exhibitions are closed and limiting the display of vulnerable objects to a maximum of one month.

6. What strategies do you use to make jewellery art appealing to younger generations?

The word “jewellery,” derived from the Latin word jocale meaning “plaything,” inspires the WJM to become a creative playground with interactive experiences.

The museum offers tailored private explorations, sensory activities such as “Touch and Try On,” and behind-the-scenes experiences for visitors seeking deeper engagement. It has also expanded its presence on digital platforms and introduced interactive displays and AR filters.

Blending interactivity with storytelling helps bridge the gap between past and present. Recently, the museum has seen an increase in visits from Alpha and Gen Z groups, especially Korean male visitors who seek authentic forms of self-expression connected to identity and culture.

Their feedback shows that the museum experience encourages reflection and participation in cultural traditions.

7. What skills do you believe future museum leaders must develop?

The museum sector continues to evolve due to changing audiences, new technologies, and shifting expectations. Future museum professionals must demonstrate innovation, adaptability, compassion, and digital awareness.

Their roles are becoming more multidisciplinary and collaborative, requiring a balance between personal stories and collective cultural experience, making each visitor feel seen and valued within the broader narrative.

8. What long-term projects or aspirations excite you most?

Digital technology allows museums to reach global audiences beyond physical space. However, smaller museums must adopt creative, cost-effective solutions to avoid financial strain.

The WJM plans to enhance the visitor experience through immersive technology, AI-powered tours, mobile games, and haptic devices, creating new ways to learn and connect.

These tools complement, but never replace, the unique presence of authentic objects and the emotional connection created by human touch.

9. What message did you hope readers would take from Eternal Jewels?

Eternal Jewels: A Collector’s Journey celebrates the first 22 years of the World Jewellery Museum and Lee Kangwon’s lifelong commitment to preserving human history through jewellery.

The book reflects the people and places that shaped her vision and offers new ways of understanding the collection through her life story.

Over the years, as a poet and essayist, Lee Kangwon has written several books in Korean, always encouraging others to “follow your curiosity and see where it leads you to find your light.”

The book reads almost like a memoir, with each jewellery piece symbolising a pivotal moment in her journey — from childhood to diplomatic life, to collector, to museum founder.

Lee writes:

“Jewellery’s eternal beauty, symbolism, and presence in our daily lives will continue to activate the body and soul for ages to come.”

She dedicates the book to

“all those who breathe life into the heart of humanity through jewellery.”