The National Museum of Korea will open its first-ever permanent exhibition space dedicated to Islamic history and culture next month, marking a significant milestone in the museum's efforts to showcase diverse world civilizations. The new Islamic gallery, developed in collaboration with Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art, will officially open to the public on November 22, providing visitors with an unprecedented opportunity to explore one of the world's most influential cultural traditions.

The permanent exhibition will be housed on the third floor of the museum's World Art Gallery, joining existing sections that feature artifacts and art from India and Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China, Japan, and ancient Greece and Rome. This strategic placement underscores the museum's commitment to presenting a comprehensive view of global cultural heritage within a single dedicated space.

The centerpiece of the new gallery will be approximately 80 carefully selected items on loan from the Museum of Islamic Art's extensive collection. These artifacts span an impressive timeline from the 7th to the 20th century, chronicling the evolution and development of Islamic artistic traditions over more than a millennium. The exhibition will feature early Quran manuscripts that demonstrate the sophisticated calligraphy and illumination techniques of Islamic scholars, along with intricate ceramics, detailed metalworks, and paintings that showcase the diversity and richness of Islamic artistic expression.

The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, which is lending these precious artifacts, stands as one of Qatar's most recognizable cultural landmarks. Founded in 2008, the museum was designed by I.M. Pei, the renowned architect best known for creating the iconic glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris. The Qatari institution houses a remarkable collection that spans over 1,400 years of Islamic heritage, making it one of the world's premier repositories of Islamic art and cultural artifacts.

To commemorate the opening of this groundbreaking exhibition, the National Museum of Korea will host a special cultural celebration titled "A Journey to Qatar's Culture at the Museum" on Saturday. This immersive event will transport visitors to the heart of Qatari culture through authentic traditional Qatari tents, where guests can experience the hospitality of Arab coffee service. Attendees will also have the opportunity to try on traditional cultural attire and witness captivating dance performances by Qatari children, creating a vibrant and educational cultural exchange that complements the permanent exhibition's scholarly approach to Islamic art and history.