Museum Week kicks off with nationwide programs
The annual Museum Week kicked off Friday, with museums and galleries across the country launching a wide range of programs aimed at reimagining the evolving role of museums in modern society.
This year's theme, 'The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,' was announced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which has organized the event since 2012. A variety of exhibitions and hands-on experiences are scheduled to run through the end of May.
Among the featured programs is 'Meet the Museum,' a new initiative involving 50 museums and galleries showcasing unique collections with compelling stories to share. Participating institutions include the Gyeonggi Provincial Museum in Suwon and the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art in Icheon, both in Gyeonggi Province.
'Enjoy the Museum' offers exhibitions and interactive programs at 31 participating institutions, including the Gyodong Art Museum in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, and the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
'Stroll in the Museum' invites the public to explore museums outside the capital, with curated tours designed to highlight regional collections. Tour stops include Yangpyeong and Paju in Gyeonggi Province, Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province, Daejeon, Jeonju in North Jeolla Province and Jeju Island. A total of 25 group tours, each accommodating up to 30 participants, will be held.
Meanwhile, the Korea Heritage Service announced special interactive programs for families with children to be held at historical sites in Seoul on Children's Day, May 5.
Children aged 12 and under — along with their accompanying parents — will receive free admission to the four main palaces of the Joseon era (1392–1910): Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung. Free access also extends to the Jongmyo royal shrine and the royal tombs located in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province.
Children will have the opportunity to dress as royal guards, try on traditional uniforms and handle replica weapons. Photo sessions with palace guards will also be offered.
At the National Palace Museum of Korea, located near Gyeongbokgung, families can enjoy magic shows and guided tours that explore the study of celestial bodies and royal rites during the Joseon era. The museum is the country's premier institution for artifacts from the Joseon era.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
World Webtoon Festival to return with global push
Korea's premier web comic event expands to major shopping complex as industry eyes international growth South Korea's flagship web comic showcase is returning for a second year — this time, on a larger scale. As with last year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will host the event, with the Korea Creative Content Agency overseeing operations. The 2025 World Webtoon Festival will take place Oct. 19–22 at the sprawling Lotte World Mall complex in Songpa-gu, Seoul, a 244,000-square-meter mixed-use development. The new venue marks a shift from last year's boutique setup in Seongsu-dong to one of Asia's largest shopping destinations, allowing for greater international participation and expanded commercial programming. Pop-up stores will occupy 11 spaces ranging from 10 to 100 square meters throughout the mall. These retail spaces will operate beyond the four-day festival window, staying open Oct. 16-26 to capitalize on visitor traffic and commercial momentum. The complex's ice rink will house content exhibitions, while its multiplex cinema will host conferences and presentations featuring industry professionals and creators in a 300-seat theater. This year's festival doubles down on cross-platform storytelling — showcasing how webtoons branch into games, animation and other multimedia formats. Separately, a job fair will connect aspiring creators with production houses to help expand career pathways in the rapidly growing sector. The culture ministry plans broader international participation following criticism that last year's event fell short of its global branding. This year's programming will feature creators and professionals from around the world to bring diverse industry perspectives. The second World Webtoon Awards ceremony will cap the festival's final day by recognizing outstanding domestic and international works across multiple categories. Last year's inaugural festival drew packed crowds to venues across Seongsu-dong. Popular series like "Solo Leveling" and "Omniscient Reader" drove merchandise pavilions, while tech giants Naver and Kakao demonstrated platform innovations, including AI-powered features and interactive viewing technologies. Korea's web comic industry recorded 2.19 trillion won ($1.5 billion) in sales in 2023, marking nearly 20 percent growth year-over-year, according to government data released earlier this year.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Korea celebrates first National Gugak Day, with diverse festival
'Gugak is core pillar of K-culture', says Minister Yu In-chon South Korea officially marked its first-ever National Gugak Day on June 5 with a series of cultural events designed to spotlight the continued relevance of traditional Korean music. Declared by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon during a commemorative ceremony at Gyeongbokgung, the new national day aims to bridge the past and present by raising public interest in gugak and activating the gugak-centered cultural industry. 'To promote gugak, revitalize its cultural industries, and elevate public awareness, we declare June 5 as National Gugak Day,' said the minister in his speech. 'With the enactment of the Gugak Promotion Act and the inaugural celebration today, I believe we've reached a significant milestone in the history of gugak.' He continued, 'Gugak has accompanied our lives for centuries, present at every moment of joy, sorrow and celebration. It has been preserved and developed across generations, arriving here today. Its growing global popularity as a core pillar of K-culture is thanks to the dedication of those who have quietly upheld its traditions.' Yu, now serving his second term as culture minister, also took a personal moment during the ceremony, noting that this would likely be his final official appearance before stepping down following the recent change in government. 'This may be the last time I address you at an official event like this. My heart is full of gratitude and emotion,' he said. June 5 was chosen for National Gugak Day to commemorate the first official record of yeominrak, meaning 'music enjoyed by the people,' which appeared in the Annals of King Sejong on this date in 1447. The day encapsulates the ethos of shared cultural heritage and aims to invite all citizens to appreciate and participate in Korea's traditional performing arts. To mark National Gugak Day and the broader Gugak Week running from June 5 to 30, a wide array of cultural events is taking place across the country. At Gyeongbokgung Palace's Geunjeongjeon Hall, audiences can experience a commemorative performance titled "Sound of the Heavens, Music of King Sejong (Sejongjo Hoerye-yeon)," while Gwanghwamun Square hosts the Yeominrak Grand Festival, featuring street parades of traditional nongak from six different regions, special performances, and interactive activities. Beyond Seoul, performances, educational programs, hands-on workshops, academic symposia, and conferences are being organized by regional gugak centers and cultural foundations nationwide, offering opportunities for the public to engage with Korea's traditional music heritage.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Korea Herald
Changdeokgung's Bullomun to undergo repairs
Bullomun at Changdeokgung, one of the most visited gates at the Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace in Seoul, will be shut down while undergoing repairs. According to the Korea Heritage Service, the stone gate, built to wish the king a long and healthy life, has sustained damage from climate conditions, necessitating conservation work. 'The last time we brought in our conservation experts was 20 years ago, and it's time we did that again,' a Korea Heritage Service official said of the repair plans. 'It's a preemptive measure,' the official explained, adding that visitors rubbing the gate's surface in the belief that it would bring good luck was another factor that prompted the intervention. It's unclear when the gate will reopen to the public, according to the official. A central stop in the palace's Secret Garden, Bullomun connects the southern and northern sides of the garden, a storied compound of natural beauty boasting trees at least 300 years old, ponds, pavilions and halls. The palace garden is a treasured example of traditional Korean architecture and landscaping, with its focus on harmony with nature. Changdeokgung, built in 1405, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. It is the only Joseon-era palace in Seoul with UNESCO recognition. The other palaces are Gyeongbokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung.
