National Folk Museum of Korea, National museum in Jongno District, South Korea
The National Folk Museum of Korea sits within the Gyeongbokgung Palace complex and displays traditional objects from different periods of Korean history. The collection includes clothing, household goods, tools, and personal items arranged across three large exhibition areas.
The institution traces its roots to collections started in 1924 and was formally established in 1946 to research and preserve Korean folk traditions. Its development became closely tied to building national memory after the end of occupation.
The museum displays objects that show how people lived and worked in Korea long ago. The items on view tell stories of everyday life, from the way people dressed to how they arranged their homes.
The museum sits on the Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds and is easily reached by public transit. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since there is considerable walking between the exhibition areas and the surrounding palace courtyards.
Architect Kang Bong-jin modelled the building on three Korean structures: the octagonal Pal-sang-jeon hall of Beopjusa, the Maitreya Hall of Geumsansa and the Gakhwang-jeon of Hwaeomsa. Look up at the stacked tiled roofs and upturned eaves before entering; the tower is a designed composite, not a copy of one temple.
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