A pair of creative contestants has captured widespread attention on social media after dressing up as ancient Korean gold earrings for a national museum contest. Their elaborate costume, inspired by the Silla-era artifact known as Gold Earrings from Hwango-dong, Gyeongju (57 BC-AD 935), quickly went viral after being shared on the social media platform Threads.
The impressive recreation represents South Korea's National Treasure No. 2001, a pair of ancient gold earrings that were officially excavated in 1949 from a tomb in Gyeongju. The contestants entered their unique interpretation in the National Museum of Korea's 2025 "Dress Like a Museum Exhibit" contest, showcasing remarkable attention to detail and creativity.
The dedication behind the viral costume was evident in the contestant's social media post shared last Thursday. "It took me 10 days to finish. I'm the right earring," the post explained, giving followers insight into the extensive preparation process. The photos revealed both contestants with their entire bodies painted gold, wearing large paper cutouts that meticulously replicated the earrings' distinctive leaf-shaped pendants.
The elaborate costume required significant resources and effort, as the contestant noted in their post: "I used seven cans of gold spray paint." This detail highlighted the commitment and scale of their artistic undertaking. The viral nature of their creation became apparent when the post drew more than 600 comments within just a single day of being shared.
The National Museum of Korea officially recognized their creative efforts on Friday, announcing that the earring duo was among the contest winners. The successful contestants will have the honor of appearing at the in-person awards ceremony, celebrating their innovative interpretation of the ancient artifacts.
The contest attracted numerous other creative participants who reimagined various important artifacts from Korean history. Other winners included participants who drew inspiration from diverse pieces such as the Tiger and Magpie painting, the Gilt-bronze Seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and various examples of Goryeo celadon pottery.
Launched last year, the annual contest serves as an innovative way to invite the general public to creatively reinterpret the museum's extensive collection. This year's competition accepted submissions from August 18 to September 7, with organizers scheduling the official award ceremony for September 27 at the museum, where winners will be formally recognized for their artistic contributions.
