“Branding the National Treasure Bangasyusang, creating a space like the Louvre Mona Lisa”

“It is the national treasures No. 78 and 83 that are truly unique in their artistry and history among the full-fledged Bangas statues that are handed down over 70 pieces around the world. We will create a separate space where you can enjoy the two Buddha statues side by side, making it a tourist attraction like the exhibition hall of the’Mona Lisa’ at the Louvre, France.”

This is the’Geumdongbang Gasa Yoo Award’ Representative Brand Project’ revealed by Min Byeong-chan (55), the head of the National Museum of Korea at a press conference on the 3rd. These statues, which are estimated to have been produced in the late 6th century (No. 78) and early 7th century (No. 83), have been selected as the most memorable exhibits in the annual visitor satisfaction survey. The profound smile and the philosophy of thought are also cultural assets that captivate even the outside of the Buddhist culture and send an eager’love call’ abroad (No. 78, 7 times, 83, 9 times overseas exhibitions).

Excluding the two accompanying exhibitions (2004 and 2015) due to the space problem of the museum, it is now possible to meet those who have been replaced every 6 months to a year on the 3rd floor of the permanent exhibition hall 365 days a year. In November, at the entrance to the donation hall on the 2nd floor, a 440m2 space, which is 8 times larger than the existing one, will be prepared. Director Min, who took office in November of last year, emphasized that these relics are “human cultural heritage not limited to Buddhist sculptures and a representative collection of museums”, and “I will consider branding the harmony between the tradition and the modern and symbolizing the Bangasaesang itself. “He added.

This project also works with the reorganization of the exhibition space in the donation hall on the second floor. The donation hall is one of the six permanent exhibition halls and occupies 15% of the area, but it has recorded the lowest in both the viewing plan and satisfaction. The museum believes that this is in the’donation exhibition’, which is the perspective of the supplier, and decided to replace it with the’donor’s hall’, which emphasizes the donor’s life and donation story by next year. Director Min explained, “In this way, donations can be distributed and arranged in effective themed exhibition halls, and we can expect to promote donation through donor storytelling.” It is a plan to attract visitors by displaying the’representative relic’ at the entrance of the reorganized donation hall.

In addition, the’Cultural Heritage Science Center’, which is scheduled to be completed in 2024, also revealed a blueprint that systematically preserves cultural heritage and establishes a system to verify the authenticity of relics through big data. The Science Center has 3 floors above ground, 1 basement level, and a total floor area of ​​9350㎡, and construction design is completed within the year and construction begins. The Children’s Museum, which has the highest response from users, is expanding its space by two times so that it can be used by up to 5,000 people from the current capacity of 2,300 people per day, and expand contents for various world culture experiences.

While the museum was closed for nearly half of the year due to Corona 19 last year, the existing exhibition halls were reorganized. On the 3rd floor of the Permanent Exhibition Hall, a new world ceramics room was opened, showing a condensed view of East-West cultural exchange on the theme of ceramics. The reorganized Japanese room introduces history and culture centered on the Edo period, focusing on samurai. The reorganization of the ceramic craft room (February 18) and the remodeling of the Baekje room (November) are also being prepared.

This year’s special exhibition will be opened from April 20 to August 15, ‘The Face of the Era, Shakespeare to Ed Sheeran’ (April 20-August 15), which introduces more than 80 major collections of the National Portrait Art Museum in Korea. Subsequently,’Homo sapiens: Evolution ∞ Relationship & Future?’ (May 18-September 26), which combines human history and humanities, and’Chosun Dynasty monk craftsman’ (December 7- March 6, next year) is calling for visitors. ‘The beauty of lacquerware’ (December 21-March 20 next year), and’Ancient bronze ware civilization in the possession of the Shanghai Museum of China’ (September 16-November 14) are also scheduled.

Reporter Kang Hye-ran [email protected]