Horses from history gallop back to life at Shinsegae The Heritage

A series of Silla-era "tou" (clay figurines) in the shape of horses and equestrians / Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

Witness horses from history thunder back to life at Shinsegae The Heritage, a century-old bank reborn as a cultural venue in central Seoul.

“The Horse: Galloping into Eternity,” an exhibition presented by the Korea Heritage Service and retail giant Shinsegae Group, casts light on Korea’s national heritage through the enduring figure of equines as the country looks ahead to the 2026 Year of the Horse.

Running from Friday through Jan. 25 inside the former headquarters of Korea First Bank — now an annex of Shinsegae Department Store’s main branch — the five-part show moves from excavated replicas and traditional crafts to modern sculpture and digital photography. It traces the animal’s many roles since prehistoric times, as a means of transport, a companion on the front lines and an emblem of authority.

Among the highlights are horse-shaped “tou” (clay figurines) and pottery engraved with cavalry processions from the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–935 AD), alongside horse armor and battlefield regalia from the Gaya Confederacy (42 BC–562 AD). The refined aesthetics of equestrian adornment come into sharper focus through “maldarae” (saddle flaps), decorated with iridescent jewel beetle wings.

A photograph of Jeju Horses, a native breed of the island designated as Korea's Natural Monument / Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

Beyond the battlefield, these animals were woven into the everyday attire of Korea’s scholar-elite through the “gat,” the black, wide-brimmed hat crafted from horsehair and bamboo.

The exhibition concludes with a series of photographs capturing Jeju Horses, a small, native breed of the island designated as a Natural Monument.

Admission to “The Horse: Galloping into Eternity” is free.