TAKE A TRIP TO THE MUSEUM TO EMPTY THE MIND AND RELAX

VISITOR OF THE DAY

by the EDITORIAL TEAM, with KWON YONGJUNE and JEONG JEONGHWAN

The Same Age and Friends from Childhood

Kwon Yongjune and Jeong Jeonghwangrew up in the same neighborhoodand graduated from the same middleschool. As a teenager, Kwon was outgoingand dealt serenely with unexpectedsituations as they came while Jeong wasquiet and rather introverted. One friendis strongly driven to action while theother seeks stability and accepts withouthesitation what he believes to be otherguy’s strengths. The two have been able tostay best friends for more than ten yearsbecause they make up for each other’sshortcomings based on mutual respect.

Turning Point: Becoming a Barista

Jeong began studying at a university butended up quitting school because hefound he was not interested in his major.While working part-time at a cafe, hecame to admire the world of baristas.Desiring to experience a wider world, heonce dreamed of going to Australia to liveand work as a barista, meeting all sorts ofpeople and experiencing diverse cultures.However, as COVID-19 hit the world, herevised his plans and is now pursuing hisdream in Seoul.

Currently working as a barista at BlueBottle, Jeong has become a completelydifferent person. As a teenager he wasshy but now, every day, he approachespeople comfortably and starts up friendlyconversations. The atmosphere of the cafe,where small talk is valued, had a decisiverole in changing his personality. To most people, a barista may look like someonewho works with ease in a pleasantenvironment, but in fact this job is likebeing a swan. It looks so elegant on thesurface, but underneath the water youhave to keep moving your feet quickly.Now in his third year as a barista, Jeongbelieves you can work as a barista only ifyou really enjoy the work as you have tostand up all day and remain completelyalert for nine hours while providingservice satisfying all customers.

Coffee as a Medium that Opens up the World

In Kwon’s case, he became a barista at therecommendation of his friend. SeeingJeong working so happy at work, Kwonwas interested in this profession, andafter gaining some experience himselfand studying up in the field, he came tothe conclusion that it was just the rightjob for him. As no special qualificationsare needed to become a barista, theentry barriers are low. However, Kwonknows well that he has to work hard tokeep up and develop his skills in orderto succeed in this field. Having exploredthe world of coffee for a long time whileworking at several cafes, he has now builta reputation for himself as a barista at PeerCoffee. These days, he is enjoying the cafeculture itself, welcoming people with asmile and communicating and connectingwith them. Forming bonds with variouspeople with the give and take of a cup ofcoffee, meeting experienced baristas andgetting advice, and experiencing the joy of making cups and dishes with his ownhands in a pottery workshop—he hascoffee to thank for all these things.

An Enigmatic Place Where Past and Present Overlap

When he thinks of museum, the firstthing that comes to Kwon’s mind is hisgrandmother. As a child he lived at hisgrandmother’s house in Ichon-dong,near the museum. On major holidays,the large extended family gathered athis grandmother’s house, and at thosetimes he would take his young relativesto the outdoor garden of the NationalMuseum of Korea where they played untilnightfall. In those days, he didn’t dare togo inside the museum because he was soyoung, but he vaguely remembers seeingthe three-story stone pagoda and stoneBuddha statues while walking aroundthe garden. Coming to the museum aftersuch a long time suddenly brought backforgotten childhood memories. Enteringthe exhibition space completely at ease, hehad a strange feeling because the smellof the museum seemed to be the same hehad noticed as a child.

Jeong remembers visiting the museuma few times on a school excursion.Rushing from one gallery to the nextwith a crowd of friends, he hardly sawanything properly and doesn’t rememberanything clearly. It was a long time sincegraduating from school that he decided togo to the museum again, and snatches ofmemory kept coming back to him. Whenhe was young he had spent his time at themuseum just laughing and talking withhis friends, but now he enjoys calmlyexamining the exhibits carefully one byone. The Lacquered Comb Box Inlaid withMother-of-pearl, which caught his eye inthe exhibition room, looks beautiful asit sits in the display cabinet as always. Inthe past, he only glanced at in passing, butthis time he stopped to examine it closelyand will remember it for a long time.

Why Spend Time in an Unaccustomed Way?

If they had chosen different career paths,the two friends would have grown apartbut since they have their barista jobs incommon they are now even closer thanbrothers. As a result, they like to meeton their days off to explore unfamiliarplaces. To recharge after interactingwith countless people at work andexhausting their energy, they spend timein unaccustomed ways in unknown places,healing body and mind before goingback to their daily lives again. In thatsense, the museum is a wonderful placeto relax. Here they can get away from theworkplace and feel free and at ease. Theywould like to travel to places far away,but when the conditions are not good, asat present, they can relieve the thirst fortravel at the museum.

Hearing that they could explore various cultures of the world at the World Art Gallery, they headed up to the third floor as if they were travelers. First they looked around the Egypt Gallery. While hoping to visit Egypt and the United States one day, the moment they faced the coffin and mummy of Pa-seba-khaien-ipet in the exhibition room they fell into the illusion that they were already travelling.

Jeong Jeonghwan “I recently became interested in porcelain, so I looked carefully at thedesigns on the jar. A free and easy peony design was engraved on eitherside of the body. I thought it was a good design for something used to hold drinks such as water or liquor.”

One-line comment : Forgotten memories from my school days kept coming back to meThree memorable points

Three memorable points : Hanging scroll from Sinwonsa Temple, the designs on ceramic items, and Ten-story Stone Pagoda fromGyeongcheonsa Temple Site

On the next visit : I would like to take my time and focus on one exhibition.

Jeonghwan looking at the beauty of his favorite item

Celadon Jar with Inlaid Peony Design

Goryeo Dynasty / Ceramics / H. 19.8 cm, D. 20.6 cm (mouth) / National Treasure / On display in the Celadon Gallery

It was in the World Ceramic Gallery that they spent the longest time, their attention caught by the diverse collection of ceramics, including cups, coffee cups, and coffee pots from Asia and Europe. As both friends place great importance on the role of the coffee cup when they brew coffee, they looked at the cups in terms of design and function to see how well the cups could keep the coffee hot or cold, or protect the flavor with a small mouth and wide bottom. The longer they stayed in the exhibition room, the more they emptied their minds and recharged themselves. With renewed energy, Kwon will give lectures and seminars on brewing coffee, which he is preparing for in the second half of the year, and Jeong will continue to grow and cultivate himself, warmly greeting everyone he meets with a smile on his face.

Kwon Youngjune “I could see it clearly from far away as it was nearly four meters high. When I got close I saw that the body of the stele was placed on a tortoiseshaped pedestal and had characters inscribed in even lines and an ornamental piece on top. The overall structure was balanced and very impressive.”

One-line comment : Overwhelming force that comes from the grand scale of the museum

Three memorable points : Galleries organized for easy viewing according to period and theme, Path to History, and Ten-story Stone Pagoda from Gyeongcheonsa Temple Site

On the next visit : I would like to see the special exhibition opening at the end of the year

Yongjune paying attention to the diverse collection of ceramics

Stele for Buddhist Preceptor Wollang

Unified Silla Kingdom Stone / H. 395.0 cm / Treasure / On display in the Path to History