Asian Art Museum’s Annual Gala Salutes South Korean Popular Culture

This year’s Asian Art Museum Gala chose a theme that guaranteed a good time. “Hallyu! The Korean Wave,” commemorates South Korea’s ascendancy as a global pop culture superpower. To celebrate the opening of this momentous exhibition—the first of its kind to feature South Korean popular culture in major art institutions—the museum welcomed VIP guests including K- pop stars Eric Nam and Roy Kim.

The festivities on October 24 included a seated dinner, designed with the concept of a Dream Party and combining the elegance of a sit-down feast with the fun of a cocktail party. The dinner portion of the evening included Korean-inspired cuisine like chewy tteokbokki and crispy Korean fried chicken, K-pop DJs, dancing and countless photo ops amid the sprawling, colorful exhibit. “Hallyu! The Korean Wave” includes nearly 200 objects and artworks that illustrate the vibrant creativity powering the world’s biggest, fastest-growing contemporary cultural wave from Asia. “Hallyu! The Korean Wave” is on view at the Asian Art Museum through January 6, 2025.