Korean palace historical banquet exhibitions

South Korean palaces are hosting various exhibitions and reenactments centered on historical royal banquets.

In late October, the Changdeokgung Palace Management Office announced a restoration performance of a 198-year-old royal banquet. Scheduled for early November, the event reenacts an 1828 ceremony held by Crown Prince Hyomyeong for Queen Sunwon, utilizing traditional court dances based on historical records.

Separately, Deoksugung Palace is hosting an exhibition titled “The Korean Empire Imperial Banquet, Prepared by AI”. In collaboration with Davero Art, the exhibition at Dondeokjeon Hall runs from November 3, 2024, through March 28, 2027. The event utilizes generative artificial intelligence and digital projection mapping to recreate Western-style banquet culture from the Korean Empire era.

Visitors can engage with interactive digital experiences, such as acting as imperial chefs by selecting from 30 ingredient models, including lamb, pheasant, salmon, truffles, and caviar. A large language model generates menu names and culinary stories in Korean and English, while projection mapping displays the final dishes on plates. The exhibition also features a 27-meter LED media wall depicting banquets with officials and foreign diplomats, alongside more than 60 historical artifacts such as Western-style tableware and chandeliers adorned with the imperial plum blossom emblem.