NATIONAL MUSEUM

This museum, the country's ninth national museum, is quite large and rich. It offers a good insight into local culture. There are 40,000 artifacts to be admired, including prehistoric pottery, a strange oleander and iron armour from Gaya, gilded bronze ornaments found in tombs in Baekje, a replica of the Mireuksa temple, remains and tiles of Mireuksa including one with a funny face (Baekje-Grand Silla), Buddhist objects from Baekje, Silla and Goryeo including reliquaries (sarira) found in a stupa of Wanggungni dating from the 8th-9th centuries, a beautiful bronze basin with dragons dating from the 12th-13th centuries (Goryeo), jewellery and mirrors from Goryeo, celadons from Goryeo (we will notice the different shades and the beauty of the shapes), white (baekja) and white and blue (cheonghwabaekja) porcelains from Joseon, a beautiful 19th century dragon symbolizing one of the signs of the eastern zodiac, travel maps and paintings, a portrait of the Emperor Gojong, an official seal of Joseon, etc. There are also more folklore sections featuring local dishes and scenes from "daily" life (inside a house, a shamanist or gut ceremony, papermaking, an inn or jumak, etc.). A large play area is provided for children so that parents can visit quietly. Throughout the year, the museum hosts various events and activities to promote the local culture of which they are so proud.