A New Year's Card and its original envelope, sent by Korean painter Park Soo-keun to an acquaintance in 1962 / Courtesy of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation

Important archival materials related to renowned Korean modern painter Park Soo-keun (1914-65) have been donated to the Park Soo Keun Museum in Yanggu, Gangwon Province.

The three items — a New Year's card and its original envelope, sent by Park in 1962, and a leaflet from his solo exhibition that same year — were originally owned by the U.S.-based collectors Robert and Sandra Mattielli.

Having formed a personal bond with the artist, the couple gifted these pieces to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (OKCHF), which later transferred them to the museum's collection.

The seasonal greeting card, addressed to Sandra Mattielli, features the handwritten message “Seasons Greetings” along with Park's signature “Soo Keun Park” on the front. Inside, it showcases a print by the artist depicting two kite flyers.

Similar cards with the same print were sent to fellow painter Lee Ung-no (1904-89), but the Mattielli card is particularly noteworthy as it retains the original postmarked envelope, providing a precise date of December 1962, according to the OKCHF.

Park Soo-keun's 1962 seasonal greeting card contains a print by the painter depicting two kite flyers / Courtesy of OKCHF

Meanwhile, the pink leaflet was produced for Park's 1962 solo show at the library of the U.S. Forces Korea command headquarters in Seoul. It contains an introduction to the painter, along with a list of his works and their prices.

While another copy is preserved in the archives of the Leeum Museum of Art, this version stands out for listing 11 additional paintings added during the exhibition — evidence of the show's positive reception.

The Mattielli couple, who first arrived in Korea as military personnel in the 1950s, played a key role in organizing cultural programs at the U.S. military base in Seoul's Yongsan District for the next 30 years. It was during this time that they befriended Park, supporting his 1962 show and acquiring several of his paintings.

These three artifacts will be featured in a special exhibition at the Park Soo Keun Museum this April, marking the 60th anniversary of the artist's passing.