National Folk Museum of Korea hosts first North Korean folk artifact exhibition

The National Folk Museum of Korea has launched a special exhibition titled ‘ZERO: North Korea Met on the Path of Folklore’ at the Gyeongbokgung Palace site in Seoul. Running until February 14, the exhibition features 346 items across 316 categories of folk artifacts from North Korean regions dating back to the pre-liberation era.

The collection includes notable items such as Haeju jars, which feature blue pigments and folk patterns of flowers and fish, and Bakcheon chests. Other displays include traditional masks used in regional dances, folding screens depicting Pyongyang, and literary works by figures such as Kim So-wol and Baek Seok.

The exhibition aims to move beyond prejudices regarding North Korea by showcasing the shared historical and cultural foundations of the Korean Peninsula through everyday life artifacts. The museum designed the space using tower-style storage units to allow visitors to view various crafts and lifestyle items from different North Korean provinces.