Korean museums celebrate centennial

Tomorrow marks the centennial anniversary for what most consider the birth of modern Korean museums.

"Jesil Bakmulgwan," or Imperial Museum, is considered Korea`s first modern museum. It was established on Nov. 1, 1908 at Changgyeonggung, but was only open to the royal family and some aristocrats.

Nov. 1, 1909 - when the Imperial Museum was opened to the public for the first time at the order of Sunjong (1874-1910), Korea`s last emperor - is the day Koreans count as the first day of the country`s museum history. Sunjong had hoped to share the cultural assets with the people.

"We easily say the word `century,` but for Korea, the past century was cut off here and there. Only our cultural assets held their original identities through that time, regardless of political changes. Everything westernized, except for the museum. It is where our people keep our memories," said Lee O-young, chairman of the Commemoration Promotion Committee at a recent press conference.

In the case of most of Korea`s museums, most of the memories are probably painful, especially during the Japanese invasion.



In 1911, the Imperial Museum was degraded to "Lee Wang-ga Museum" by the Japanese. Instead, the Japanese opened a museum in the Japanese Joseon government, along with its branches in Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province and Buyeo in South Chungcheong Province, and used it as a part of their colonial policy.

After the country regained its independence in 1945, however, the museum started to get back on track. Koreans turned the former Japanese museum into a National Museum. As much meaning as the year has, 1909 was also memorable in Korea`s museum history.

The country`s main museum could finally be run by its people again.

The National Museum had continued to suffer since then, shifting to different places during the Korean War, but it matured during these tough times.

One by one, more museums were established outside the capital. With the help of many companies and collectors, more artifacts were donated to the museums and researchers at the museums and universities started research and discovery work.

"We worked hard to increase the number of museums, and now there are about 600 nationwide. By 2010, hopefully there will be 800," said Lee, who is a former minister of culture, sports and tourism.

As well as increasing the number of the museums, officials have been putting in extra efforts to turn them into favored places for youth and family outings.

For instance, all national museums have designated the fourth Saturday of every month as "the day to visit a museum." They have also been hosting performances and concerts since last December.

Another innovative event tries to reward people for visiting as many museums as possible. It`s called "Visit 100 museums with your family" and has been running from last January and ends this December. Collect 100 tickets from the museums you have visited, and the National Museum of Korea will give out prizes.

To make museums more friendly for students, the museum is busy reorganizing artifacts in the order they are introduced in history textbooks.

In July, the Unified Silla and Balhae rooms were expanded and Goryeo room was newly created. The Old Joseon room will be set up by Monday, completing rooms that cover the country`s history from the prehistoric age to Joseon Dynasty.

What made these changes possible were donations.

As the museum reorganized the rules of honoring donators and started distributing their name plates and cards in March, the number of donated relics increased from 50 to 230, marking a 450 percent increase this year compared to the same period last year.

As a result of these efforts and help from some blockbuster exhibitions, the number of visitors to the National Museum of Korea increased 24.5 percent this year as of August compared to the same period last year, to 1.89 million people. The number of visitors to regional museums also increased about 17 percent.

Furthermore, the country`s national museums are gearing up for another big leap in the near future.

"National Museum of Korea, which was an effort to show the legitimacy of the nation in the 20th century, is getting ready to stabilize itself as the symbol of the country in the 21st century. We are planning to establish a museum complex in Yongsan by 2014. It will become a Korean landmark that introduces Korean culture to the world," said Choe Kwang-shik, director of the National Museum of Korea.

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Events and exhibitions

The Korean Museum Association has hosted many commemorative exhibitions and events this year at some 20 national museums throughout the country. Here are some that are underway or scheduled at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul.

A small pavilion named "Cheongjajeong," which is newly built above Geowul pond inside the museum to celebrate the centennial anniversary, will be unveiled to the public tomorrow.

The notable part about the pavilion is that Cheongja, or blue porcelain, is covered on its roof like some used to be in Goryeo Dynasty. Officials hope it will become a symbol of the museum like the glass pyramid is for the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Also tomorrow, a commemorative concert by 100 vocalists will take place at the museum at 7 p.m.

The official ceremony to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Korean Museum will take place on Monday, at National Museum of Korea in Seoul. It will be in a traditional ritual form. Men of merit who contributed in the development of Korean museums will be awarded at the ceremony.

An international conference is planned on Tuesday at the National Museum of Korea. Ten museum directors from all over the world including the director of Freer Sackler Gallery in the Smithsonian Museum in New York and the director of Tokyo National Museum will discuss strategies and visions for world museums in the 21st century.

A book on the centennial history of Korean museums, meanwhile, will be published on Dec. 30.

The National Museum of Korea in Seoul is hosting a special exhibition "Yeominhaerak," which means "to share enjoyment with people," that will showcase many relics that have rarely been open to public during the last 100 years.

The highlight would be "Mongyudowondo," a painting of a paradise by Joseon dynasty artist Angyeon. It runs through Nov. 8.

Other special exhibitions, "The Life and Paintings of Jeong Seon," and "Scenes of Banquets and Ceremonies of the Joseon Period" are also underway at the museum.

The exhibition "The Life and Paintings of Jeong Seon" commemorates the 250th anniversary of the legendary Joseon Dynasty artist`s death. It showcases more than 140 pieces of Jeong`s work. It runs through Nov. 22.

At the exhibition "Scenes of Banquets and Ceremonies of the Joseon Period," visitors can learn how people of the Joseon Dynasty celebrated and partied. The paintings depict a wide range of events from familial parties of the commoners to royal banquets. It runs through Dec. 6.

To visit the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, get off at Ichon Station, subway line No. 4, and go to exit No. 2. Visit www.museum.go.kr for more information.

(claire@heraldm.com)



By Park Min-young