National Palace Museum Reopens
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
The National Palace Museum of Korea will open its 12 exhibition halls Wednesday, ending its expansion project.
The museum will exhibit about 900 pieces of royal historical artifacts of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) up from the present 500, including seven national treasures, throughout the three-story building.
Previously, the museum had five exhibit halls, categorized by themes throughout the two floors ― royal symbols and records, ancestral rites, palace architecture, Joseon sciences and royal life.
Now the museum has more themed exhibit halls; the birth of the royal family, education, literature, royal paintings and music ― to show the lifestyles and cultures of royal families.
For the reopening exhibit, special urns ― which were used to hold the placentas of six kings; Taejo, Sejong, Injong, Seongjong, Jeongjo and Sunjo and their princes and princesses ― will be on display for the first time.
The museum will also display ``Sun, Moon and Five Peaks,'' a folding screen standing behind kings of Joseon Kingdom.
Also as part of the reopening celebration event, the museum will hold a special exhibition of 71 portraits recently designated as National Treasures and other portrait-related artifacts.
``The exhibit artifacts were all used by royal families. Visitors can enjoy the high quality of various historical relics based on the royal heritages,'' a museum official said.
The Royal Museum in the Stone Hall of Deoksugung Palace was moved to a significantly larger location at Gyeongbokgung Palace and reopened under the name of "The National Palace Museum of Korea" on Aug. 15, 2005.
The Museum has a collection of about 40,000 precious royal artifacts found in Joseon's palaces.
The exhibit halls on the 1st floor and the basement will be fully opened to the public.
Visitors will be allowed to view the exhibition free, through to the end of December.