Digital Reproduction of King Gwanggaeto the Great's Stele Installed as Museum Enhances Goguryeo Exhibit

Courtesy of NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

In 2024, the National Museum of Korea is prioritizing the expansion of the Goguryeo Kingdom's representation in its permanent exhibition hall. A significant addition to this effort is the installation of a digitalized version of the Stele of King Gwanggaeto the Great inside the museum.

The digital replica, displayed on an 8-meter-tall LED media tower, references a set of raw stone rubbings acquired by the museum last year. The original stele, erected in 414 by King Jangsu, stands at 6.4 meters and is located in Ji'an, China. The media reproduction aims to enhance the understanding of this historically significant monument. 

▲ Courtesy of NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREAStone rubbings, without lime and clay additions to prevent distortion, were used to create the digital replica. Yoon Sung-yong, director-general of the National Museum of Korea, acknowledged the limitations of digital reconstruction compared to the original artifacts but emphasized the museum's commitment to strengthening Goguryeo's permanent exhibition.

The museum's first-floor permanent exhibition space, covering the Paleolithic Period to Goguryeo, will undergo reorganization, marking the first significant change since the museum's relocation to Yongsan District in 2005. A digital kiosk featuring the entire stone rubbing has already been added to the exhibition hall.

In a bid to address cultural inequality in smaller rural cities, the museum plans to curate six exhibitions touring 12 cities, collaborating with regional branches. Educational programs and performances will be integral to these initiatives.

The ongoing "A Collector's Invitation" exhibition, featuring donations from the late Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee, will continue its countrywide tour, heading to the Jeju National Museum in June and Chuncheon National Museum in September.

A notable change in November will see the opening of a new permanent exhibition space dedicated to Oegyujanggak Uigwe, detailing protocols for state rites during the Joseon Dynasty. Visitors will have access to digitally rendered versions of the books on-site.

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Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com