Fulbright Korea’s 75th Anniversary Artwork
A seonbi—a scholar from Korea’s Joseon dynasty—stands on a street in Brooklyn, New York, representing the Fulbright mission of building mutual understanding through international educational and cultural exchange. The juxtaposition of traditional Korean attire with the urban setting of Brooklyn symbolizes the blending of cultures and the timeless pursuit of knowledge that transcends borders.
To the left in the artwork, two Americans dressed in Korean-inspired clothing further illustrate this cultural exchange. The man, wearing a traditional hanbok and saekdong socks, demonstrates an appreciation for traditional Korean cultural items, representing the adoption and respect for Korean traditions by individuals from the United States. Beside him, an American woman dons a modernized version of the hanbok, combining elements of Korean and Western fashion to represent the harmonious integration of cultural identities between Korea and the United States.
Together, these figures stand as a testament to the Fulbright Program’s vision of bringing people and nations closer together through shared knowledge and mutual understanding.
In Washington Square Park, in front of NYU, a seonbi stands with two Americans.
(Artist: Bo-kyung Ham)