National Museum of Korea Reopens Daehan Empire Exhibition

The National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관) reopened its Daehan Empire (대한제국) gallery on 30 May after a nine‑month renovation. The revamped exhibition presents 7 designated treasures and a total of 65 cultural items, including the royal seal (국새 칙명지보), An Jung‑geun’s inkstone (안중근 의사 유묵), the oldest Korean flag (데니 태극기) and a newly displayed portrait of Emperor Gojong (고종황제어진).

A highlight is the first public display of a copper plate and silver plaque recovered in 1996 from the demolition of the Japanese colonial government building, bearing the names of the first three Japanese governors‑general. The museum uses transparent OLED panels, AI‑driven video, and curved screens to create immersive digital narratives of the Korean Empire’s diplomatic activities and modernization efforts. Director Yu Hong‑jun said the exhibition “remembers the Korean Empire’s self‑driven attempts at modernization and the formation of a Korean identity despite colonial oppression.”