National Museum of Korea facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
National Museum of Korea

국립중앙박물관
Front view
Established	December 3, 1945; 79 years ago (1945-12-03)
Location	137, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Type	History and Art museum
Collection size	over 310,000 pieces 295,551 square metres (3.18 million square feet)
Visitors	3,476,606 (2017)
Public transit access	Ichon

The National Museum of Korea (Hangul: 국립중앙박물관) is the most important museum for Korean history and art in South Korea. It opened in 1945. The museum studies and researches old artifacts, history, and art. It also creates many different exhibits and learning programs for visitors.

In 2005, the museum moved to its current home in the Yongsan District of Seoul. A new branch of the museum opened inside Incheon International Airport in 2021. This special branch is located near Gate No. 22 in the airport's boarding area.

History of the Museum

How the National Museum Started

Korea's first museum was created in 1909 by Emperor Sunjong. It was called the Imperial Household Museum. Later, during the time when Japan ruled Korea, another museum was formed. When South Korea became independent in 1945, the collections from these two museums became the start of the National Museum of Korea.

Moving to New Homes

During the Korean War, the museum's 20,000 valuable items were moved to Busan. This kept them safe from being destroyed. After the war, the museum returned to Seoul. It was housed in different places, including Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung Palace.

In 1972, the museum moved into a new building at Gyeongbokgung Palace. It moved again in 1986 to a building that used to be a Japanese government office. This building was later taken down in 1995. Finally, in 2005, the museum officially opened its doors in a brand new building. This building is located in Yongsan Family Park.

The Museum's Modern Home

The museum is built on land that was once a golf course. This golf course was part of a US military base called Yongsan Garrison. The US Army gave some of this land back to the Korean government in 1992. This land then became the Yongsan Family Park.

The museum building was designed to be very strong. It can withstand a magnitude 6.0 earthquake. The special display cases for artifacts have platforms that absorb shocks. The museum also uses natural sunlight and a special air-conditioning system. It is made from materials that resist fire. The museum has many areas, including exhibition halls, learning spaces, a children's museum, outdoor areas, restaurants, cafes, and shops.

The museum holds over 310,000 items in its collection. About 15,000 of these items are shown at any one time. It is one of the largest museums in the world, covering a huge area of 295,551 square meters.

Exploring the Museum's Layout

Interior of the museum

The National Museum of Korea has three main floors. The left side of the museum is meant to show the past. The right side is meant to show the future. Outside the museum, on the ground floor, you can find beautiful parks and gardens. There are also waterfalls, pools, and a collection of ancient stone pagodas, lanterns, and monuments. One important item here is National Treasure of Korea No. 2, the Great Bell of Bosingak. This bell is a great example of Korean bells from the Joseon period.

First Floor: Ancient and Medieval Korea

The first floor has the Prehistory and Ancient History Gallery. Here, you can see about 4,500 items from the very first humans in Korea up to the Unified Silla era. This gallery has nine rooms:

• Palaeolithic Room (Stone Age)
• Neolithic Room (New Stone Age)
• Bronze Age and Gojoseon Room
• Proto Three Kingdoms Room
• Goguryeo Room
• Baekje Room
• Gaya Room
• Silla Room

These items range from old stone tools to fancy royal jewelry. They show how early people in Korea developed their unique culture. You can see artifacts from important ancient sites like the Bangudae Petroglyphs and Songgung-ni.

Also on the first floor is the Medieval and Early Modern History Gallery. This gallery shows the culture and history from the Unified Silla, Balhae, Goryeo, and Joseon periods. It has eight rooms, including:

• Unified Silla Room
• Balhae Room
• Goryeo Room
• Joseon Room

Second Floor: Art and Donations

The second floor features the Donation Gallery and the Calligraphy and Painting Gallery. The Calligraphy and Painting Gallery has 890 pieces of art. These artworks show traditional and religious Korean art through lines and colors. This gallery is divided into four rooms:

• Painting Room
• Calligraphy Room
• Buddhist Paintings Room
• Sarangbang (Scholar's Studio)

The Donation Gallery displays 800 pieces of art. These items were given to the museum by private collectors. This gallery has eleven rooms, each named after the collector who donated the items.

Third Floor: Sculptures, Crafts, and Asian Art

The third floor holds the Sculpture and Crafts Gallery. It has 630 pieces of Korean Buddhist sculptures and craftwork. Some famous items here include Goryeo Celadon pottery. Also, National Treasure of Korea No. 83, the Pensive Bodhisattva, is a highlight. This gallery has five rooms:

• Metal Arts Room
• Celadon Room
• Buncheong Ware Room
• White Porcelain Room
• Buddhist Sculpture Room

Also on the third floor is the Asian Arts Gallery. This gallery has 970 pieces. It explores how Asian art is similar and different across various cultures. It also shows how Asian and Western art mixed along the Silk Road. This gallery has five rooms:

• Indian & Southeast Asian Art Room
• Central Asian Art Room
• Chinese Art Room
• Sinan Undersea Relics Room
• Japanese Art Room

Amazing Artifacts to See

The National Museum of Korea has many incredible items. Here are a few of the most famous ones:

Gold Crown (National Treasure of Korea No. 191)

Silla Golden Crown

This amazing gold crown is from the Silla kingdom, made in the 5th century. It was found in a tomb in Gyeongju. More decorations were found in this tomb, including a silver belt that said "Madame's belt." This suggests the tomb belonged to a woman. The gold crown shows how important the person who owned it was in society.

Pensive Bodhisattva (National Treasure No. 83)

Pensive Bodhisattva

This statue, from the early 7th century, shows a Bodhisattva deep in thought. It sits with one leg crossed over the other, with its fingers gently touching its cheek. This pose comes from the Buddha thinking about human life. The statue wears a special flat crown. Its upper body is bare, with a simple necklace. This statue is very similar to a wooden Pensive Bodhisattva in Japan. This suggests it might have been made in Silla. Its balanced shape and beautiful details are typical of the Baekje period.

Celadon Incense Burner with Openwork (National Treasure of Korea No. 95)

Celadon Openwork Incense Burner

This incense burner, made in the 12th century, is a top example of Goryeo celadon pottery. It has three parts: a lid with a hole for incense, the burner itself, and a stand. The lid has a special design to help the scent come out.

Ten-Story Pagoda from Gyeongcheonsa Temple (National Treasure of Korea No. 86)

Ten-Story Pagoda

This tall stone pagoda was first built in 1348 at a temple called Gyeongcheonsa. In 1907, it was secretly taken to Japan by a Japanese official. But thanks to British and American journalists, it was returned to Korea in 1918. It was first put back at Gyeongbokgung Palace. However, it was hard to protect it from acid rain. So, in 1995, it was taken apart again. Now, it is safely displayed inside the National Museum of Korea. You can see it in the 'Path to History' area.

Album of Genre Painting by Danwon (Treasure of Korea No. 527)

Dancing Boy by Danwon

Kim Hong-do, also known as Danwon, was a famous painter in the 18th century. He was known for his funny and honest paintings of everyday people's lives. This album has 25 paintings. Each painting focuses on people without much background detail. Kim's paintings look simple, but they show great brushwork and balanced designs. He likely created this album when he was about 40 years old.

The Oegyujanggak Uigwe

Gyujanggak was a royal library started in 1776 by King Jeongjo of Joseon. It was located at Changdeokgung Palace. Over time, it also became a research center. In 1782, a special annex called Oegyujanggak was built on Gangwha Island. This was to keep important royal documents safe.

Oegyujanggak held copies of writings, art, and drawings by past kings. It also kept royal family records and special books called uigwe. These uigwe are detailed records of how royal events and ceremonies were planned. They include step-by-step explanations and beautiful hand-drawn pictures. These books helped future generations organize similar events.

The Uigwe books were made from the 15th century until the early 20th century. They show important parts of Confucian culture, which valued proper rituals. They also explain how the Joseon state was run. The historical and cultural value of these books is recognized worldwide. In 2007, the "Royal Protocols of Joseon Dynasty" were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

Many of these books were taken by French forces in 1866. They were kept at the Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France). In 2011, 297 volumes were returned to Korea. The National Museum of Korea held a special exhibition to celebrate their return.

See also

In Spanish: Museo Nacional de Corea para niños

• Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism