What is the Seokguram Grotto exhibition in Paris about?

The exhibition centers on Seokguram Grotto, an eighth-century stone grotto near Gyeongju that is regarded as a masterpiece of Silla Dynasty Buddhist art. It will present the site through digital projection, photos, a tactile model and contemporary artworks.

When will the Seokguram Grotto exhibition open in Paris and how long will it run?

It will open on Oct. 1 at the Korean Cultural Center in France and run through March 13. The opening ceremony is expected to draw about 400 guests, including diplomats, UNESCO officials and local cultural figures.

What other events will accompany the Paris exhibition on Korean heritage?

Korea on Stage in Paris will run from Oct. 1-7 alongside the exhibition. It will feature outdoor traditional music and dance performances at landmarks such as the Trocadero, educational programs for local students and meditation and temple cuisine sessions led by chef-monk Jeong Kwan.

Korea Heritage Service to bring Seokguram Grotto exhibition to Paris

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Summary

The Korea Heritage Service will open a Seokguram Grotto exhibition in Paris on Oct. 1 to mark 140 years of Korea-France diplomatic ties. Titled The Millennium Mystery of Buddhist Art: Seokguram, it will run through March 13 at the Korean Cultural Center in France. The show is organized with the center, the Gyeongju city government and other institutions. A companion festival, Korea on Stage in Paris, will run from Oct. 1-7.

Key Facts

Seokguram is an eighth-century artificial stone grotto near Gyeongju that houses a large seated Buddha statue.
The grotto became one of the first Korean sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995.
The exhibition will include a digital installation, photographs, a tactile 3D model for visually impaired visitors and works by contemporary Korean artists inspired by Silla-era Buddhist relics.

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Published Sep 14, 2026 2:29 pm KST

The main Buddha statue inside the Seokguram Grotto near Gyeongju / Korea Times file

To celebrate 140 years of diplomatic ties between Korea and France, one of Asia’s most celebrated spiritual and architectural masterpieces is heading to Paris.

Starting Oct. 1, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) will unveil a landmark exhibition dedicated to the ancient Seokguram Grotto, bringing centuries of East Asian artistic brilliance to the heart of Europe.

The exhibition, titled "The Millennium Mystery of Buddhist Art: Seokguram," will run through March 13 at the Korean Cultural Center in France. It is being organized with the center, the Gyeongju city government and other institutions. Seokguram is an eighth-century artificial stone grotto near Gyeongju that houses a large seated Buddha statue and is considered a masterpiece of Silla Dynasty Buddhist art. In 1995, it became one of the first Korean sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The exhibition will feature an immersive digital installation projecting a three-dimensional scan of the grotto's interior across the walls and floor of the center's auditorium, along with photographs, a tactile 3D model designed for visually impaired visitors and works by contemporary Korean artists inspired by Silla-era Buddhist relics.

The exhibition will be accompanied by Korea on Stage in Paris, a seven-day cultural festival running from Oct. 1-7. Highlights include outdoor performances of traditional Korean music and dance at landmarks like the Trocadero, educational programs for local students and immersive sessions on Buddhist meditation and temple cuisine led by world-renowned chef-monk Jeong Kwan.

The opening ceremony on Oct. 1 is expected to draw about 400 guests, including diplomats, UNESCO officials and local cultural figures.

The KHS said it hopes the events will introduce the value of Korean heritage to French audiences and encourage more visits to Korea.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

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