Cosplay contest brings Korea’s national treasures to life

The grand prize winners of the heritage cosplay contest enter the award ceremony with costumes that look like gold earrings worn by royals during the Silla Kingdom at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, Saturday. Newsis

The Buddha, tiger and magpies, golden earrings and crowns, and Goryeo celadon — symbols that usually appear in Korean relics and folk paintings came to life Saturday as costumes at a heritage cosplay contest organized by the National Museum of Korea.

The award ceremony took place in the plaza outside the museum and 10 winners strutted down a red carpet, showing off their elaborate creations to a cheering audience.

The grand prize went to two men who transformed themselves into a pair of gold earrings once worn by royals of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935). The earrings are designated national treasures.

Cosplay contest winners show off their costumes that resemble a tiger and magpies during the award ceremony at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, Saturday. Newsis

“We chose the earrings because they are less well-known. I hope more people will learn about them through us,” the winners told a local Korean news outlet.

Second place went to three Japanese participants who cosplayed as a tiger and magpies, a common motif in Korean folk paintings, or “Hojakdo,” made during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). “We were inspired by the tiger in the film 'KPop Demon Hunters,'” one of them said.

Other winners included a woman who paid tribute to her love of Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) celadon by appearing in jade green costuming from head to toe.

A cosplay contest winner walks with her costume that resembles Goryeo celadon during the award ceremony at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, Saturday. Newsis

The cosplay contest returned for its second rendition after the enormous popularity of its debut in 2023.

The museum, which is seeing record visitor numbers this year thanks in part to the hit film “KPop Demon Hunters,” used the ceremony as a chance to showcase the beauty and history of Korea’s cultural heritage.

Museum director and contest judge Yoo Hong-jun expressed hope that the cosplay contest will continue to grow in popularity and be enjoyed by many.