The Museum of Photography, Seoul (MOPS) is the first museum of photography in Korea, authorized in 2002. The museum was founded by the Hanmi foundation, an organization established in 2004 by Hanmi Pharmaceutical Company, which has contributed to improving public health by developing high quality medicines. In 2010, Hanmi foundation was renamed Ga-Hyeon foundation of Culture. The museum engages in a variety of activities to promote an understanding and appreciation of photography. It exists to encourage and inspire photographers who choose to pursue an artistic career in the realm of Korean photography. The museum realizes its mission through exhibitions, support of artists, educational programs, as well as building network of other organizations which engage in the development of photography. In particular, it endeavors to catalogue the history of Korean photography by collecting and researching early and contemporary photographs.