To be treated as a respectable citizen, one must first contribute to society.

Interview and text by Lee Su-jeong _ Chief Storyteller  
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), located in Manhattan, New York, is a world-renowned luxury museum that can be considered a source of pride for America. A proud Korean has introduced the first Korean-language tour program (Highlight Tour in Korean) at this historic and grand museum. We met with Koo Chang-hwa, who has dedicated over 30 years to providing a meaningful and enriching viewing experience for Korean visitors to the MET while living as a resident of New York City for 46 years.

How did you first get involved with the Metropolitan Museum of Art?  
When I moved to Manhattan after getting married, my husband got me a MET membership. As my children started school and I found some free time, I thought I should give back to society. So, I applied to volunteer at the MET, where I already had a membership. About two years after applying, in 1990, I received a call. I started volunteering for half a day on Fridays and gradually learned about the workings of a large institution.

How did you start the Korean-language tour program at the MET?  
In 1992, during the LA riots, I was far away but was deeply shocked. This event made me realize that cultural understanding and respect among races are essential for peace, and I felt that our Korean people needed cultural enhancement to be treated fairly in society. So, I sought out possible channels and persistently persuaded many people to enroll in a year-long tour guide training program. At that time, Korean became the sixth foreign language offered for tours at the MET, following Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Japanese. In the early days, I was the only one conducting the tours, which was quite a heavy responsibility. However, I put great effort into presenting Korean beautifully at the MET, paying attention to my voice, details, and even my walking style. From 1993, I could only conduct tours when requested. Very few people knew about the existence of a Korean tour guide, so I had to work hard on all fronts. Eventually, several organizations requested tours, and starting in 1994, Korean was officially included in the program and offered regularly every Friday.

Starting as a volunteer at the MET over 30 years ago stemmed from my belief that we, and our descendants, must first contribute to society to be treated as respectable citizens in America, and that belief remains unchanged.

Koo Chang-hwa  
Born in Seoul, she grew up experiencing the Korean War and displacement. After graduating from the Department of Applied Art at Seoul National University, she came to the United States for further studies in 1972. She taught Korean for ten years at the Korean School in New York while illustrating Korean language textbooks. She has written columns about the MET for various media, including the National Museum of Korea. For over 20 years, she has been on a pilgrimage to cultural heritage sites, traveling through Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo to Venice, visiting all 23 countries bordering the Mediterranean. During the pandemic, she has been helping her husband, who established the Korean War Foundation, to remember and commemorate the heroes who sacrificed their lives during the Korean War.

What does the Korean-language tour at the MET entail?  
The tours are conducted by volunteers who have completed a year of training and passed an evaluation. They guide general visitors around the museum, helping them understand and appreciate the artworks. As you know, the MET's encyclopedic exhibition, which houses over 5,000 years of human history and artistic creations from around the world, is incredibly vast. Therefore, this program helps visitors appreciate the artworks in a friendly and accessible manner without discomfort or tension. The regular highlight tour lasts one hour and covers about 7 or 8 artworks, with the selection varying by guide, so visitors can hear different content on multiple visits. In my case, with the many artworks accumulated over 27 years, I often struggle to choose which pieces to present within the limited time. For example, I might explore themes like "Is seeing everything really seeing?" or focus on "landscape painting" to shed light on different cultures and eras. I also make sure to include artworks that may seem unfamiliar but are significant, hoping that visitors won't miss the diverse opportunities the MET offers, including ancient cultures that are hard to encounter in Korea, as well as art from Africa and the Middle East.

How is the volunteer work for the Korean-language tour guides organized?  
Currently, eight Korean-language guides take turns conducting regular tours three times a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday) at 11 AM. In addition to regular tours, we offer special tours when requested by groups. However, during this unusual pandemic period, all museum programs have been halted, and Korean-language tours are not currently available. Those interested in volunteering for the Korean tour program or other departments can find detailed information on the museum's website. I encourage anyone who has an interest in art, enjoys volunteering, is responsible, and can dedicate time, even if they haven't majored in art.

What benefits can one expect from participating as a volunteer Korean-language tour guide?  
Volunteering provides a sense of fulfillment in giving back to this grateful society, and there is immense joy in spending time with great works of art in an environment that can be considered a treasure trove of human culture. It also offers a challenge for self-improvement through learning and studying. Additionally, it is a rewarding opportunity to share knowledge, and forming friendships with like-minded individuals is another significant benefit.

Do you have any particularly memorable experiences while working at the MET?  
There was a group of visitors who requested a special tour and came multiple times. One day, one of them attended in a cocktail dress and high heels. When I asked why, she said, "I brought this cocktail dress thinking it might be needed when coming to America, but I haven't had a chance to wear it. Where better to wear it than in a museum? So, I wore it today." It’s common for people to view artworks in casual or comfortable travel attire, but her attitude of dressing beautifully to appreciate beauty was truly lovely! I often think of her.

What challenges do you face while conducting the Korean-language tour guide program at the MET?  
The MET's volunteer organization is not a group created by the museum but a voluntary cooperative group. We gather of our own accord to serve solely for the museum. Our purpose is truly a service "of the people, by the people, for the people." Sometimes, I feel disheartened when I encounter misconceptions about volunteering at the MET. Although things have changed significantly now, in the early days, there were many misunderstandings about volunteering. I often heard questions like why we would do unpaid work, why we would serve American society instead of Korea, and that our efforts would be better spent on earning a degree. I understand that the immigrant experience can be challenging, but I firmly believe that to ensure our descendants are treated as respectable citizens, we must first contribute to society.

What are your future plans, and what would you like to share with the readers of Mom & I?  
In the past, I vowed to continue working as a tour guide at the MET as long as my body allowed, but these days, I feel it is right to open opportunities for younger generations. Of course, I have a strong attachment to the program I worked hard to create. The joy of walking through art appreciation with visitors is truly delightful, and the happiness of sharing what I learn is immense. Therefore, I want to continue challenging myself for new opportunities as much as I can. In the past, my daughters took great pride in seeing me volunteer, but now I find myself contemplating what kind of legacy I want to leave for my four grandchildren as a grandmother. That is my biggest plan.  
Visit the Metropolitan Museum's website at www.metmuseum.org.