Miscellaneous & Archiving Highlight

MISCELLANEOUS

Second education box made for children

The National Museum of Korea created an education box for children on the theme of “Highlights of an Illustrious Life.” This is the second installment in the NMK’s education box series, following the first box made in 2019 on the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner from Baekje.

Highlights of an Illustrious Life refers to an eight-panel folding screen featuring joyous events that a yangban-class man experienced in his lifetime during the Joseon period. The education box on Highlight of an Illustrious Life is designed to attract interest and curiosity of children and includes various analog and digital elements for the user’s interactive experience.

The education box allows children to understand the theme through observation, exploration, and experience and associate what they learned with their own life, rather than offering unilateral education. The education box on Highlights of an Illustrious Life was made in three sets to be used at the National Museum of Korea, Daegu National Museum, and Jeonju National Museum, respectively.

Online humanities lecture series

The first one of the History and Culture Lecture Series at the National Museum of Korea was given on March 3. This lecture program targeting lay people interested in the humanities invite experts to explore themes related to the NMK’s exhibitions or culture and history of Korea and the world. This year’s lectures are offered live online. By connecting to the NMK’s official YouTube site (https://www.youtube.com/ user/koreanmuseum) at 2:00 pm every Wednesday, any interested person can watch lectures in real time and write comments. The program will run in 25 sessions until November 24, and details of each lecture can be found at the NMK’s official website.

Special exhibition held on an extended schedule

The NMK extended the duration of the special exhibition After Every Winter Comes Spring when it reopened after a temporary closure against the spread of COVID-19. Visitors who were yet to see the exhibition or those who wanted to get the touching impression of the exhibition once again had time to think about the joys and sorrows of life and hold hope for warm days.

Exhibition of the oldest Taegeukgi in Korea

To celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the Independence Movement Day (March 1), the NMK specially presented the oldest extant national flag of Korea housed in Korea, known as Denny Taegeukgi for two weeks. This flag was granted by Emperor Gojong to his American diplomatic advisor Owen N. Denny, and was donated to the Korean government in 1981 by William Ralston, a descendant of Owen. N. Denny. This exhibition commemorating the meaningful donation of the Denny Taegeukgi also presented video materials on the history of Taegeukgi to deepen visitors’ understanding of the theme.

Photo contest for a day at the NMK in the year of Sinchuk

A photo contest will be held from March 1 to June 30, 2021 for every lover of the NMK to present their photos to attract people to the museum. Any photo that arouses people’s interest in the museum is admissible, including people or relics seen at the museum, events held at the museum, or scenery of the museum. Those who want to participate in the contest only need to present an image file of a photo that they took during the contest period. The prize-winning works will be displayed on the Nadeulgil of the NMK and will be posted at the NMK’s official website and SNS channels. For further information about the contest, please visit the website for the contest (http://museum.dev-dnad.kr/).

ARCHIVING HIGHLIGHT

Exhibition title - Goryeo: The Glory of Korea

Venue - Special Exhibition Gallery

Date - December 4, 2018–March 3, 2019

No. of visitors - 172,101

Contentes - 349 items (452 pieces) including Statue of Monk Huirang, Descent of Amitabha, and Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara

To mark the 1100th anniversary of the foundation of the Goryeo Dynasty the National Museum of Korea opened a special exhibition in late 2018. Though Goryeo is the origin of the name “Korea,” which first came known around the world at this time, Goryeo art and culture has been veiled in mystery. This exhibition was a chance to enjoy Goryeo art and a reminder of the spirit and values that we should aspire to. It made its mark in the history of special exhibitions and continues to be talked about even today.