Teddy Bear Museum features dinosaurs in Gyeongju
By Chung Ah-young
The sixth Teddy Bear Museum with the theme of dinosaurs has opened in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province on April 7.
The museum is the official brand of JS&F, which operates the branches in Jeju, Seorak, Paju, Namsan and Hawaii with different concepts and themes.
Located in Dream Center in the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), the museum displays a “storytelling” exhibition consisting of various themes to portray an adventure of a teddy bear family and dinosaurs.
In the “Dinosaur World,” a teddy bear family travels to the Silla Kingdom and explores the age of dinosaurs and the ocean in a time machine. However, after the time machine breas down, the family abruptly lands in the Antarctic and the Arctic Oceans, tropical seas and a fairy tale land in “Under the Sea.” “The Silla Scene” tells the historical stories and myths related to the Silla Kingdom.
Particularly, the museum reproduces Silla’s historical heritages such as Cheomseongdae (astronomical observatory) and Seokgatap (Sakyamuni Pagoda) in miniature and the teddy bears wear Silla’s traditional costumes alongside moving dinosaur robots.
Also, some 40 antique teddy bears are on display and a parody section portray classic artworks such as David and Venus as teddy bears at the art gallery.
“The museum will become a new theme tourist spot for adults through the unique exhibition concepts and subjects will be given the historical characteristics of Gyeongju,” the museum said in a statement. “It will also give the opportunity to experience history and science through teddy bears and dinosaurs for children.”
The Teddy Bear Museum was first established on Jeju Island in 2001 and has extended to other regions with specific themes and different stories.
The Seoul’s museum features the past, present and future of Seoul through the display of teddy bears while the museum in Paju reinterprets international artworks through the stuffed animals.
The Seorak museum holds the smallest teddy bears in the world while the one in Hawaii offers diverse stories related to teddy bears, which contributes to the tourist attractions.
Tickets cost 9,000 won for adults, 7,000 won for teens and 6,000 won for children. For more information visit www.teddybearmuseum.com or call (054) 742-7400.