'Golden Man' from Kazakhstan on view in Seoul
A model of a yurt, a portable round tent used in Kazakhstan, is on view at "Kazakhstan ― the Cradleland of the 'Golden Man'" exhibition in the National Museum of Korea in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country and former Soviet republic, is less known in Korea, but is a vast country full of rich cultural heritage on the territory over 26 times larger than South Korea.
“Kazakhstan ― the Cradleland of the 'Golden Man,'” a special exhibition at the National Museum of Korea (NMK), dedicated to the near yet far Central Asian country in collaboration with the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Bae Ki-dong, director general of NMK, said this exhibition is going to provide the beginning of understanding between the two countries.
"Kazakhstan is where the East meets the West and gives a glimpse into how exchanges between different cultures began. This is the first major exhibition introducing Kazakhstani culture and tradition in Korea," Bae said during a press conference, Monday.
The exhibit features some 458 pieces from the Kazakhstani flagship museum and is part of its tour around the world, with destinations such as Russia, China, Poland, Japan and Turkey.
"Korea and Kazakhstan have been strengthening their relationship thanks to some 100,000 ethnic Koreans in Kazakhstan. We hope this special exhibition is the beginning of future cooperation between the two countries," Abay Satubaldin, deputy director of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said.
The exhibit begins with "Gyerim-ro Dagger," a golden dagger excavated from a tomb in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, dating back to the sixth century Silla Kingdom (BC 57-935).
"You might wonder why we started this exhibit from a relic found in Korea, but this dagger is assumed to have come from Central Asia, considering its double-bladed style and the alloy ratio. So this dagger serves as a great example of interchanges between the East and the West, so we brought this dagger to open the exhibition," NMK curator Kang Kun-woo said.
Reconstruction of Saka chieftain's clothing in "Kazakhstan ― the Cradleland of the 'Golden Man'" exhibition / Courtesy of National Museum of Korea
The centerpiece of the exhibit would be the reconstruction of Saka chieftain's clothing. Originally found in the Issyk burial ground in southern Kazakhstan, the museum re-constructed the costume and hat of the buried person, who is expected to be a high-profile boy in his late teens.
"We assume him to be a chieftain of royal bodyguards. The discovery of the 'Golden Man' was one of the largest excavations of burial grounds decorated with gold since Tutankhamun," Maral Khabdulina, director of the Institute of Archeology named after K. Akishev explained. "He is wearing a formal suit for special occasions. The color red is related to sun and light, so ancient people used it for special purposes."
The exhibit also features a "Spherical Incense Burner with Horse-Rider Decorations" and other cauldron and altar used for rituals, showcasing how early Kazakhstani civilization developed.
While shedding light on the rich tradition of the Central Asian country, the special exhibition relates to modern life in Kazakhstan as well. A model of a yurt, a portable round tent used in Kazakhstan, is on view with contemporary style decorations. Kazakhstani Wedding costumes are also on display.
The exhibition runs through Feb. 24, 2019. For more information, visit
or call 02-2077-9000.