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Korea Herald
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Explore concepts of wrongdoing and redemption
'Art of Early Joseon: Masterpieces from the 15th and 16th Century' exhibition showcases rulers of the underworld A rare painting created during the early Joseon era (1392-1910) that made its way back home from Japan will be on view at a special exhibition at the National Museum of Korea through Aug. 31. As part of the special exhibition titled "Art of Early Joseon: Masterpieces from the 15th and 16th Century," three panels of "Siwangdo" will be displayed starting Friday. Aptly named the "Ten Underworld Kings," the set of paintings on silk depicts the 10 kings of the underworld who pass judgment on the sins committed by the deceased in their lifetime. The set comprises 10 hanging scrolls, each depicting one of the 10 kings and a scene of hell, with a clear contrast between divine authority and suffering. It was repatriated last November. One of the three paintings on display features King Yeomra, known as the ruler of the underworld, who plays a central role in judging the souls in the afterlife. In the painting, a soul stands before a mirror that reflects their past sins, forcing the deceased to confront their karma. Another painting depicting the sixth judge of the afterlife, King Byeonseong, portrays a hopeful vision of what lies beyond judgment: A soul is shown the path to spiritual rebirth and redemption, reflecting the Buddhist belief that salvation remains possible even after punishment. The third painting on display features King Pyeongdeung, also a ruler of hell, listing souls' sins. Jointly organized by the state-run museum and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, the exhibition runs until Aug. 31 at the NMK's Special Exhibition Gallery. The exhibition will be free of charge Aug. 5-10.
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
NMK chief plans international tour of '5,000 Years of Korean Art' exhibition
You Hong-jun pledges to bring renowned artworks from around the world to Seoul At a time when Korean culture and tradition are sweeping across the globe, You Hong-jun, the newly-appointed director general of the National Museum of Korea, has set his sights on taking the "5,000 Years of Korean Art" exhibition abroad, aiming to highlight the cultural foundations that underpin modern Korean culture. "The exhibition held 45 years ago marked a major milestone in gaining recognition for Korean art in the Western world. I am planning an exhibition that highlights the essential qualities of traditional Korean art as the original foundation from which modern Korean culture has evolved," the 76-year-old told reporters during a press conference held at the museum on Thursday. Organized by the state-run museum, the 1979 exhibition went on a two-year, seven-city tour of the US, showcasing 354 nationally treasured cultural artifacts. It played a pivotal role in reshaping global perceptions of Korea, transforming it from a nation known for war and division to one rich in vibrant culture. "It will take around two to three years to arrange and finalize the dates with overseas museums and art galleries before the exhibition can actually take place. The museum is planning to discuss the exhibition with cultural institutions in several countries, including the US, France and the UK," he said. Some of the institutions on the list are the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the British Museum in London and the Guimet Museum in Paris, several local media reported, quoting You. "If I succeed in putting together this exhibition well, I believe I will have done this job properly as the museum's chief," he added. You also pledged to bring renowned artworks from around the world to Korea, noting that the NMK has the expertise and resources necessary to exhibit pieces showcased in some of the world's most prestigious museums. You continued, saying that a museum's success and reputation are reflected in the quality of its exhibitions. "I want to organize exhibitions in Seoul that allow people to see famous masterpieces without having to travel," he said, vowing to make great art accessible to a broader audience. Confident about the NMK's growing reputation and stature, the new chief added that the state-run museum now ranks alongside France's Louvre and the Vatican Museums, underscoring its central role in representing and preserving Korea's history and culture. The museum chief also stressed the need to focus on long-term improvements to better accommodate the growing number of visitors, citing the record-high visitor numbers in the first half of this year — the highest since the museum moved to its current Yongsan location in 2005. More than 2.7 million people visited the museum between January and June, marking a 60 percent increase from about 1.65 million visitors in the same period last year. "I would like to ask visitors to consider coming during less busy times, such as late night openings on Wednesdays or weekdays. ... We are thinking about ways to manage the high volume of guests better and improve their visiting experience," he explained. You said he feels a sense of "great responsibility and duty" in leading the country's national museum. "I accepted the role to meet the demands of our time. On a personal note, I believe serving as the museum's director is better aligned with my abilities than holding the post of Culture, Sports and Tourism minister." A seasoned scholar and educator, You was a chaired professor of art history at Myongji University in Seoul before taking the post. You taught art history at Yeungnam University in North Gyeongsang Province and later at Myongji University. In September 2004, he was appointed head of the Cultural Heritage Administration — now known as the Korea Heritage Service. A staunch promoter of Korea's rich cultural heritage to the general public, he is well-known for his widely read book series, "My Exploration of Cultural Heritage." The 10-volume series traces Korea's layered history through personal storytelling and vivid depictions of cultural sites and historic neighborhoods.
Korea Herald
20-07-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Denny Taegeukgi lights up Seoul to mark 80 years of liberty
Immersive video of Korea's national flag shown at National Museum Korea, Shinsegae Square's outdoor LED screens The oldest remaining prototype of the Taegeukgi, South Korea's national flag, is being displayed on large screens in Seoul to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. An immersive video featuring the historic flag will be shown on the National Museum of Korea's outdoor light-emitting diode screen until Oct. 12, as well as at Shinsegae Square in Myeong-dong every 10 minutes through Aug. 15, which is the Liberation Day holiday. The "Denny" version of the Taegeukgi, housed at the state-run museum, is the oldest and the largest extant of Korea's national flag, measuring 262 centimeters in width and 182.5 centimeters in length. The flag was part of a collection held by Owen Nickerson Denny (1838-1900), an American diplomatic adviser to King Gojeong in 1886. The flag was presented by the Joseon era's King Gojong (1863-1907) to Owen Denny around 1890, before he left the country the following year. His descendant, William Ralston, donated the flag to the NMK in 1981, according to the museum. The one-minute video of the flag brings to life the history and spirit of Korea through the Denny Taegeukgi, using powerful visuals to show its journey from oppression to hope and national pride. It opens with a realistic re-creation of the original flag, made of white cotton with a red and blue taeguk and hand-stitched blue trigrams. Shadows and darkness soon follow, representing the dark period of Japanese colonization and Korea's suffering. As the light returns, the flag gradually regains its colors, representing hope and restoration. The original flag will also be physically displayed at the national museum until Oct. 12 as part of the special exhibition "80th Anniversary of Liberation: Faces We Meet Anew," in celebration of Liberation Day. "The museum has created a digital piece that brings the history and meaning of the Denny Taegeukgi to life, as part of the museum's efforts to combine new technology with cultural stories. We will continue to create innovative content that leverages technology to further elevate the museum's standing," Kim Jae-hong, the NMK's director general, said in a press release.
Korea Herald
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Meet the splendid and the unassuming Japanese art in Seoul
Marking 60th anniversary of Korea-Japanese diplomatic ties, National Museum of Korea and Tokyo National Musuem jointly host special exhibition on Japanese art in Seoul As part of a cultural exchange program between South Korea and Japan marking the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the National Museum of Korea and the Tokyo National Museum are jointly holding a special exhibition in Seoul for the next two months, shedding light on the aesthetics and subtle depths of Japanese art. Titled "Japanese Art from Four Perspectives," the exhibition invites visitors to trace the beauty of the neighboring country's ancient times from Tuesday until Aug. 10. The exhibition features a total of 62 pieces from the two museums, showcasing the beauty of Japanese art and the ideas and emotions behind it. The Tokyo National Museum, home to many of Japan's treasured artworks, offers a rare chance to see valuable and diverse Japanese cultural treasures up close with 40 pieces from its collection, including seven items designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The highlights include a kimono with autumn grasses painted by Ogata Korin, an 18th-century Edo-period artist, and Noh theater masks used in the traditional Japanese performing art known as"shakumi." Noting that the two museums are at the forefront of fostering cultural exchanges and cooperation between Korea and Japan, Kim Jae-hong, the NMK director general, expressed hopes that the exhibition would give visitors a better understanding of Japanese life and culture. "We sincerely hope that the exhibition will strengthen the ties between the two countries, not just in politics and economics, but culturally and emotionally as well," Kim told reporters during a preview tour held at the NMK on Monday. Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910 and 35 years of colonial rule followed, brought to an end in 1945 by Japan's defeat in World War II. The two countries normalized relations in 1965. The exhibition is divided into four sections. The first perspective that greets visitors is the "Decorative Impulse," which explores the spirit of ornamentation and its aesthetic implications. Here, four pieces of Jomon pottery — some of the oldest pottery in the world — are on display. The artifacts, dating back to 3,000 BCE to 2,000 BCE, show how the ancient earthenware shaped Japanese art and culture. Multicolored glazed porcelain and lacquerware decorated with gold and silver are also on display in this section. In "Pursuit of Restraint," the charm of subtlety in Japanese art is on full display, offering insight into the humble beauty of tea bowls. The third section, "Beauty of Ephemerality," explores "aware," which is a core sentiment of Japanese culture that reflects a gentle sadness or deep emotion felt from the fleeting nature of life. "Aesthetics of Playfulness," the exhibition's last section, looks at how artists use fun and creativity in their work. Makoto Fujiwara, director of TNM, said he hopes the exhibition will help bring Koreans a step closer to Japanese culture. "Korea is geographically a close neighbor of Japan, and because of this, the two countries have deeply influenced each other. Today, Korean culture is widely loved in Japan, and vice versa. Japan's animation has gained immense popularity in Korea," Makoto said. "But Koreans don't really know about Japan's history, which serves as the foundation of its culture. The exhibition will give an easy-to-understand overview of 9,000 years of Japanese art to help people learn more about Japan's cultural roots," he added.
Korea Herald
09-06-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Exhibition focuses on early Joseon art
First 200 years of Joseon shaped Korean identity, National Museum of Korea says For the next three months, an exhibition at the National Museum of Korea will look at how the first 200 years of Joseon (1392-1910) formed what is quintessentially Korean identity today through exceptional artworks. The exhibition 'Art of Early Joseon: Masterpieces from the 15th and 16th Century' illustrates the initiative and vibrancy the Joseon people projected as they fostered what would become Korea, according to Kim Jae-hong, the NMK director general, during a preview tour Monday. 'Joseon's early years were pivotal to Korean history because the social fabric as well as physical borders of Korea were established by then,' Kim added, saying artworks on display would help people recognize the continuity of society over centuries. A total of 691 ceramics, calligraphy and Buddhist paintings are on view, 40 of which are on loan from 24 institutions in the US, UK, Germany, France and Japan. Of the 40 items, 23 are being shown in Korea for the first time, an NMK official said, adding that 79 items on display are state-designated National Treasures and Treasures. Some 300 ceramics, which account for almost half of the entire objects featured, testify to Korea's shifting focus on white porcelain from the celadon of the preceding Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392). Buncheong, a type of stoneware that bridged the transition in the 15th century, uses a greater range of decorative techniques than Goryeo celadon, and is more colorful than white porcelain, the museum said. White porcelain replaced buncheong in the following centuries. Calligraphy and paintings by Joseon officials, who doubled as scholars promoting Confucian values and teachings, shed light on Joseon aesthetics, chiefly expressed in ink wash paintings that stress various tonal effects employing just black ink and water. 'Through ink-wash landscape paintings rendered in deep tones of black ink with masterful shading, the scholar officials of Joseon depicted the ideal world envisioned by the newly established Confucian ideology,' the museum said. Buddhist objects, from paintings to statues, add context to the exhibition dedicated to the deeply Confucian state. The Wooden Seated Buddha at Jogyesa, the main temple of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, shows the influence Buddhism still held over the people even after the state adopted Confucianism as its ruling ideology, a museum official said. Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon, a book annotating Hangeul, the Korean writing system created by King Sejong the Great in 1443, which will be on display until July 7. The exhibition comes 20 years after the museum's reopening in Seoul's Yongsan-gu. It runs through August, and admission fees are waived from Tuesday to Sunday.
