By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Choe Kwang-shik, director of the National Museum of Korea, said that the museum is seeking to create a complex in Yongsan.
``People are reluctant to visit here only to see the museum. They need more cultural and convenient facilities where they can spend time with family and friends. I think Yongsan is the best place for the museum complex,'' Choe told reporters on the first anniversary of his inauguration.
He said that it is a good idea to establish a museum complex, to be equipped with various cultural facilities such as theaters, galleries and restaurants, like COEX mall, on the site of the U.S. army base near the museum.
``It's still on the drawing board without any detailed plan. We need more cooperation with related government agencies and public support. We'll further discuss the issue in the international academic forum with experts in May,'' he said.
Choe is considering constructing a children's museum as part of efforts to form the museum complex.
He said that on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Korean museum, there should be increased awareness of it. ``I hope the fostered awareness leads to increasing public sentiment for creating the museum complex,'' he added.
To globalize the institution, the museum will host special blockbuster exhibitions _ the Egypt Civilization Exhibition and the Inca Civilization Exhibition.
The former will feature 232 ancient Egyptian relics, including mummies from Vienna's Art History Museum in Austria, from April to August.
The second will present 300 relics including golden artwork from the National Museum of Peru.
The museum will also hold a special exhibition of letters of King Jeongjo (1776-1800), collected by the museum and on display to the public for the first time in October.
``We have a collection of letters written by King Jeongjo. Now we're translating the old Chinese into Korean. We'll also publish the letters into a book after translation is complete,'' he said.
As part of its centennial, the museum will host international academic forums, special exhibitions and a museum expo while building a symbolic structure.
An international academic conference will be held May 22-24; a special exhibition of the 100-year history of the museum in October and November; an international forum Nov. 3, which has invited some 10 directors from museums around the world; a museum expo in which 100 selected museums will promote their institutes in November; and a symbolic structure of a traditional pavilion topped with green celadon roofing tiles will be established, also in November.
Korea's first museum, the Imperial Household Museum, established by King Sunjong at Changgyeong Palace, opened to the public Nov. 1, 1909, in the waning days of the Joseon Kingdom.
It was the first time a museum was open to the public. It collected and stored various artwork and relics, such as Buddhist paintings and Goryeo porcelain.
It changed its name to the Yi Royal Museum, the Yi Royal Gallery and then the Deoksu Palace Art Museum, and was finally integrated into the National Museum of Korea in 1969.
Former culture minister Lee O-young was named chairman of the commemoration project committee, and first lady Kim Yoon-ok was named honorary chairwoman.
There are around 600 national and private museums around the country.