Deoksugung Palace hosts AI-powered Korean Empire banquet exhibition

The Deoksugung Palace Management Office, in collaboration with Davero Art, has launched a special exhibition titled “Imperial Banquet of the Korean Empire, Prepared With AI” at Dondeokjeon Hall in Seoul. Running from November 3, 2024, through March 28, 2027, the exhibition merges historical research with generative AI to allow visitors to experience the Western-style dining culture of the Korean Empire.

Participants can act as imperial chefs by selecting from 30 different ingredient models, such as lamb, pheasant, salmon, truffles, and caviar. Using sensors and generative AI, the system creates images of the resulting dishes, while a large language model (LLM) generates menu names and culinary stories in both Korean and English. The cooking process is displayed on a digital kitchen wall, and the final dishes are projected onto plates using projection mapping technology.

The exhibition also features a 27-meter LED media wall depicting imperial banquets attended by officials and foreign diplomats in historically accurate attire. Alongside these digital experiences, more than 60 artifacts are on display, including chandeliers adorned with the imperial plum blossom emblem, Western-style tableware, and various cooking utensils used during the early 20th century.