National treasures will tour various regions in South Korea, providing everyone with the opportunity to appreciate these cultural artifacts close to home.
According to the National Museum of Korea on May 14, the "National Treasure Tour: Treasures in Our Neighborhood" will take place from May 19 to August 9 at the Jincheon Museum in Chungbuk, the Yeongam Celadon Museum in Jeonnam, and the Uiryeong Uibyeong Museum in Gyeongnam.
The exhibition will kick off on May 19 at the Jincheon Museum with "Dignity and Authority in Blue: Royal Blue-and-White Porcelain." This will be followed by "Baekje Masterpieces: Baekje Patterns" at the Yeongam Celadon Museum on May 21, and "Flowers in Ceramics: Inlaid Celadon" at the Uiryeong Uibyeong Museum on June 10.
This exhibition allows visitors to encounter representative cultural heritage that they may have only seen in textbooks. Without needing to travel to Seoul or the metropolitan area, attendees can view significant cultural artifacts such as a white porcelain vase with peony designs (treasure), a dragon-patterned brick (treasure), and an inlaid celadon vase with peony designs (national treasure) at nearby museums.
Additionally, promotional content for the National Treasure Tour has gained attention on social media. A video featuring a miniature concept shows the treasures being prepared for their journey, utilizing 3D data of major cultural heritage items held by the National Museum of Korea. The promotional video also depicts treasures arriving by boat or train and landing on the museum grounds or rooftops.
Now in its third year, the "National Treasure Tour" has attracted over 460,000 visitors across 20 regions in the past two years, demonstrating significant public interest. Family groups have been frequenting local museums, invigorating not only the museums but also the surrounding communities. This initiative not only reduces cultural disparities between regions but also emphasizes the importance of making national treasures accessible to everyone.
The exhibition at Jincheon Museum, "Dignity and Authority in Blue: Royal Blue-and-White Porcelain," will showcase five pieces, including a blue-and-white porcelain vase with peony designs (treasure) that exemplify the elegance and aesthetic of the Joseon royal family. The Yeongam Celadon Museum's "Baekje Masterpieces: Baekje Patterns" will feature eight pieces, including a dragon-patterned brick (treasure), highlighting the artistic form and aesthetics of Baekje patterns.
The Uiryeong Uibyeong Museum's "Flowers in Ceramics: Inlaid Celadon" will present six pieces, including an inlaid celadon vase with peony designs (national treasure), showcasing the refined aesthetics and craftsmanship of Goryeo celadon. Notably, three inlaid celadon pieces donated by the late Lee Kun-hee will also be on display. Uiryeong is the hometown of Lee Byung-chul, the founder of Samsung Group, making the exhibition of these donated cultural artifacts particularly significant for the local community.
Yoo Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, stated, "The 'National Treasure Tour' is a project aimed at sharing our cultural heritage with local communities and fostering growth between museums and their regions. We will continue to strive to ensure that more people can encounter our cultural heritage at nearby museums."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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