The Gwangju National Museum was established at Maegok-dong of Jeollanam-do province on Dec.6,1978 after
Korea's liberation from Japan in 1945. Since its opening, it has contributed to the development of unique and
regional culture consistently.
The prehistoric culture from the Paleolithic age and the sophisticated ancient Mahan and Baekje(0-300 A.D.) culture
and the flourishing Buddhist civilization from the Three kingdoms age, demonstrate culture of the Honam area.
Potteries from Yuan and Song Dynasty were excavated in Sinan Marine and have been on display at this museum.
Along with these potteries, the Goryeo Celadon produced in Jeollado area is known as world class. These excellent
and precious cultural assets have received public recognition home and abroad through the display of the Gwangju
National Museum.
The Gwangju National Museum has helped demonstrate the phases of ancient culture based on the regional and
priceless heritage of the jeolla area. It has a collection of more than 40,000 pieces and has Prehistoric Gallery,
Sinan Marine Relics Gallery, Pottery Gallery, Buddhist Art Gallery, and Planned Display Gallery. Along the relics of
1,000 on display, seven national treasures and one treasure are included.
We appreciate your visit to our website.
In the year 2010,
Gwangju National Museum
will be re-born.
This museum(Director - Jo Hyeonjong) will be transmuted into new features, dreaming the biggest change since it has opened for 30 years first. Exhibition Hall is going to have been renovated extensively from June 22, 2009 to August 31, 2010. And even though for the period for Exhibition Hall renovation, spectators can view representative relics in the Education Center which was reconstructed.
The original form of Exhibition Hall will be preserved after due consideration of the value that it has been a landmark of Gwangju which was designed by the architect Park Chunmyung and have 30 years architecture history. The inner part of Exhibition Hall(The gross area 7,055m2, two stories above, four under ground) will have been renovated extensively by frame reinforcement work, interior shift and so on. After this renovation, citizens can meet re-born Exhibition Hall.
Exhibition Hall which opens newly in 2010 will be reorganized into history museum form, and it shows the eternal history and culture of our locality. Exhibition Hall consists of Prehistory, Ancient times, The Middle Ages and Modern times in order. Gallery of Agriculture particularly displays rice culture that is together with offspring of the same forefather. So we try to inform the rich culture of southern province to people. Gallery of The Middle Ages includes Gallery of Buddhist Art which shows thoughts and practice, Gallery of Confucianism, and Ceramics which shows the elegance and blooming culture of JeollaNamdo. Gallery of calligraphic works and paintings and Gallery of History is going to be constructed newly. New Exhibition Hall will apply modern display technique of high technology, and pursuit an energy efficiency of LED lightning and so on.
In the meantime, we open exhibition - "Gwangju National Museum Representative Relics" continuously in Education Center during the period for Exhibition Hall renovation. In this exhibition - "Gwangju National Museum Representative Relics", Bronze relics from Daegok-ri Hwasun(National Treasure No. 143), Gilt-Bronze Crown from Sinchon-ri Naju and woodenware relics which are showed newly after conservation management from Sinchang-dong Gwangju are displayed. Moreover about 300 relics of Sarira Reliquary from Stupa of Gwangju, Gilt-bronze Amitabha-Buddha from Suncheon-si Maegok-dong, Bronze Amitabha-Buddha Hall, Celadon Maebyeong(Vase) which is a representative masterpiece of Korean ceramics, Buncheong Ware Flattened Bottle, White Porcelain Jar, beautiful old paintings by Yun Du-seo and Heo Ryeon are displayed.
Relics displayed from June 23 in Education Center will be changed by periods. So it is expected that they will induce the cultural pride of our region.
Besides Information Center is established in front of Exhibition Hall, and gives visitors every convenience. In addition, parasols are given to visitors by which you can get away from the heat. Like this we promise to do our best for visitor's convenience.
Various kinds of custom education program, Saturday Cultural Events, Saturday Special Stage and so on make progress steadily.
By Exhibition Hall renovation, display "Gwangju National Museum Representative Relics", and various kinds of programs to seek after the culture original form of southern provincial, this museum is expected to become cultural center where anyone wants to go anytime.
