Although contemporary history remains a sensitive issue in Korea, a museum is now opened in Seoul showing all the story about modern and contemporary history of Korea. An interesting new attraction to any visitor curious to learn about Korea’s destiny.
SEOUL – The museum showcases Korean history, focused on the period from the end of 19th century when the nation opened its ports to the outside world for the first time to today, in both a comprehensive and systematized way.
The tape-cutting ceremony of the National Museum of Contemporary History on December 26 was attended by President Lee Myung-bak. The newly-opened museum displays around 1,500 relics that are indicative of Korean history in the arenas of politics, economy, society, and culture from the early 19th century to today).
The museum is an eight-story building covering a total area of 6445 square meters and is equipped with six exhibit halls, storage, seminar rooms, a cafeteria, a souvenir store, and a rooftop garden. The old building was previously used as offices to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It has been carefully renovated into the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History.
The permanent exhibition consists of four sections, each themed on ”Dawn of the Nation” from 1876 to 1945, ”Establishing a basis” from 1945 to 1960, ”National development” from 1961 to 1987, and ”Modernization” from 1988 to today.
The exhibits, set to utilize high-tech information skills and cultural technologies, display 1,500 pieces of historical relics including autographs of patriot Ahn Jung-geun, the Declaration of Independence, keepsakes left by war dead, and Korea’s first exported car, the Pony.
On the first floor, a video that captures Korea’s significant historic political, economic, societal, and cultural moments interacts with visitors who are given an opportunity to extend their knowledge of the nation.
In addition, there is a room dedicated to past Korean presidents, displaying their portraits and workplace.
The museum’s roles are expanded to conduct educational programs and thorough research and studies in contemporary Korean history. An important step as many Southern Koreans do not anymore feel concerns by the current Thai society.
Contemporary history is the study of recent events which are closely connected to the present day. Since the people involved in those events are still alive and their view of history is very subjective, it is often difficult to decide how to interpret contemporary history. This is why it is difficult to reach a consensus on how contemporary history is viewed and explained to future generations.
“It is imperative that the museum seeks out and provides access to varying interpretations of the events in contemporary history shaping the national narrative,” said Alissandra Cummins, chairperson of the Executive Board of UNESCO, in a keynote speech at the symposium to mark the scheduled opening of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History.
The two-day symposium kicked off at the Press Center on November 23 with keynote speeches and panel presentations by dignitaries and academics including Cummins as well as President Hans-Martin.
Korea had a turbulent modern history as it opened its door to the outside world amid the growing influence of imperialism from the late 19th to early 20th century, falling under Japanese occupation for 36 years. Shortly after its independence, it suffered the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 that claimed 4 million lives.
Only a handful of countries around the world like Germany and Poland have contemporary history museums. Because of controversy over the interpretation of modern history, an idea of founding such a museum in France hit a stumbling block recently.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
