One of the nation’s earliest and most historically significant museum collections of Korean art and culture. PEM’s superlative collection reflects Korea and Korean life during the late Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) and early 20th century, a time of cultural connection and transformation.

PEM’s early Korean collection was primarily formed by Edward Sylvester Morse, director of the Peabody Academy of Science (a predecessor to PEM) from 1880 to 1914. In 1883, Morse met Paul G. von Möllendorff, a diplomat and advisor to King Gojong, and requested that he acquire Korean objects on the museum’s behalf. That same year, the young Korean scholar Yu Kil-Chun (1856–1914) arrived in the U.S. as a member of Korea's first diplomatic delegation. He was introduced to Morse and lived and studied in Salem and nearby Byfield until 1885. During his stay, Yu donated his clothing and other personal belongings to the museum. These, along with Morse's first purchase from Möllendorff, formed the foundation of PEM’s Korean collection.

Morse continued expanding the collection throughout his tenure, including acquiring a group of ten Korean musical instruments exhibited at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the World’s Fair. Several years later, Charles Goddard Weld facilitated the purchase of Korean works for PEM from Dr. Gustavus Goward, a diplomat who served in Korea, Japan, and other parts of the Pacific Rim. PEM’s Korean collection continued to grow in the early 20th century. Some of its most significant acquisitions from this period include a late Joseon hwarot (bridal robe) and an early 19th-century folding screen, Welcoming Banquet of the Governor of Pyeongan.

PEM’s collection emphasizes works that reflect the prominence of Korean women artists and artisans in textiles, basketry and paper-mache objects and it continues to grow and diversify thanks to important acquisitions, including fine mid-Joseon mother of pearl inlaid lacquer ware, a Nectar Ritual painting from 1744, which is a superlative example of a late JoseonKorean religious painting, an exquisite 19th century folding screen depicting Banquet of Queen Mother of the West, and the recent acquisition of Nam June Paik’s 2001 Ceramic Vessel and 1998 Mirror.