Exhibition of the Pensive Bodhisattva

Marking its 80th anniversary in 2025, the National Museum of Korea(NMK) is embarking on a significant new chapter. Attracting nearly four million visitors annually, it remains South Korea’s largest cultural institution and one of the most influential museums in Asia. As part of its latest renewal, the NMK has unveiled a series of immersive digital exhibitions—including the Immersive Digital Gallery and the newly redesigned Room of Quiet Contemplation—and is introducing additional programs in November. With its galleries newly arranged to present thousands of years of Korean history in a more engaging way, the museum offers compelling reasons for past and new visitors to visit. 

An introduction to the museum 

Founded in 1945 after South Korea’s liberation, the NMK began by taking over the former Government-General of Chosen’s Museum building. It moved to its current Yongsan site in 2005 and has since established itself as a center for cultural preservation, academic research, and public education. Today, the museum houses nearly 300,000 artifacts, spanning from prehistoric Korea to the modern age. 

In recent years, the museum has advanced its Digital Strategy 2025 initiative, incorporating VR, AR, and other immersive media to enrich visitors’ understanding of Korean history. Its latest renewal includes renovated galleries, new digital exhibition spaces, and expanded programs scheduled throughout November—offering visitors a more interactive and informative experience. 

In The Art Newspaper’s 2024 global museum attendance ranking, the NMK drew significant attention by securing eighth place. This placed the museum on par with renowned institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art with 5.73 million annual visitors, the Tate Modern with 4.6 million, and the Musée d’Orsay, with 3.75 million. This ranking further strengthened the NMK’s status as one of the leading museums in Asia and underscored its growing role in elevating the global profile of K-culture. 

The NMK has also recently benefited from the momentum of K-culture. After the release of Netflix’s animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” visitor numbers surged, with foot traffic at nearby subway stations rising by nearly 90 percent. The “2025 NMK Costume Festival,” held on September 27, also attracted more than 6,000 visitors through reenactments of the film’s popular songs “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop.” 

The museum saw another attention spike on social media when BTS member RM posted a photo of a miniature Pensive Bodhisattva statue, a souvenir from the NMK, leading to a nationwide sellout of the item. These developments illustrate how the museum is evolving beyond a traditional exhibition space to become a cultural hub where Korea’s classical heritage and modern pop culture converge.  

Introduction to the Exhibition Hall 

^{The exhibition at the National Museum of Korea}

Towards its 80th anniversary, the NMK has completed major renewals of its exhibition space. It has currently reopened its Prehistory and Ancient History Hall, and new permanent exhibits such as the Digital Immersive Theater and the Room of Contemplation were also introduced. This was in line with the 2022 revised International Council of Museums Charter, which defined museums as cultural institutions that provide education and entertainment for the general public, in addition to historic preservation and research. Starting in November, the NMK has also begun hosting special exhibitions such as the “Yi Sun-shin exhibition” and the “From Impressionism to Early Modernism: People Who Collected Light” exhibit, while also adding diverse content such as the opening of the permanent Islamic Art Gallery. 

The three Immersive Digital Galleries within the NMK screen immersive content based on cultural and historic paintings, making Korea's treasures approachable regardless of nationality or background knowledge. The largest Gallery, Gallery 1, features a massive panoramic screen measuring 60 meters wide and 5 meters tall. As the exhibit’s videos contain no dialogue, foreign visitors can also enjoy the sensory experience. 

The Room of Quiet Contemplation displays two Pensive Bodhisattva statues, both of which are national treasures created during the late 6th to early 7th century’s Three Kingdoms period. Separated from other exhibition halls, it offers a space for deep contemplation. The corridor leading to the Contemplation Room features media art expressing the cycle of water and the expansion of the universe. The subtly sloped floor and warped ceiling evoke the cosmos, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the experience. 

The Prehistory and Ancient History Exhibition, reopened in February 2025, presents a total of 1,156 ancient artifacts. The reorganized exhibition utilizes site information, illustrations, and video materials from archaeological sites to convey humanity's attempts to adapt to the environment, the context and function of tools used at the time, and the changes in life brought about by new tools.  

Starting in November, limited-time special exhibitions are planned, including “From Impressionism to Modernism: People Who Collected Light,” focusing on impressionist painting, and the special exhibition “Yi Sun-shin”, featuring the 16th-century navy admiral of the Imjinwar. Additionally, the Islamic Art Gallery in the World Art exhibition hall was opened on November 22, in collaboration with the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar. 

Services for Foreign Visitors at the National Museum of Korea 

_{Services for Foreign Visitors} 

The NMK's permanent exhibitions are open year-round with free admission for both locals and foreigners, making it an ideal destination for international visitors wishing to enjoy Korea's cultural heritage.  

The museum offers regular foreign language guided tours of its permanent exhibitions, with professional guides and volunteers providing approximately one-hour tours. Any foreign visitor can participate free of charge at designated times, and accompanying Korean visitors may also join. The tours are conducted in English, Japanese, and Chinese and start in front of the Korean Empire Hall on the 1st floor of the Permanent Exhibition Hall. Tour times are as follows: Monday to Friday at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM; Saturday(English/Japanese) at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, (Chinese) at 1:00 PM; Sunday at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM. 

Every Wednesday during evening opening hours(6:00 PM to 9:00 PM), the museum hosts “Conversations with Curators.” In November, guided tours covering 14 themes will be offered in the permanent exhibition halls, including the special exhibition “From Impressionism to Early Modernism: People Who Collected Light” and the newly opened Islamic Art Gallery within the World Culture Hall. 

The museum also offers non-human commentary and guidance: Inside the NMK's permanent exhibition halls, the exhibition guide robot QI provides multilingual exhibition commentary services. Visitors can communicate in real-time conversation, receiving not only explanations of key exhibits but also customized guidance on exhibition room viewing routes. Additionally, QI provides information on the museum's events, performances, and educational programs. 

The NMK is actively working to improve accessibility for foreign visitors. However, the proportion of foreign visitors remains below 4%, with some criticism on the usage rate and linguistic diversity of its audio guides. In response, Yoo Hong-jun, Director of the NMK, promised: “In line with the government's policy to increase foreign tourists, we will enhance accessibility for foreigners and pursue initiatives such as multilingual exhibition content and strengthened promotion.” Thus, the NMK's efforts to improve accessibility and convenience for foreign visitors are expected to intensify in the future. 

Since its establishment in 1945, the NMK has served as a central institution for preserving Korean cultural heritage and advancing public education. After relocating to its new building in 2005, the museum has seen steady growth in both domestic and international visitors, and today it ranks eighth globally and first among East Asian museums. Through its Digital Strategy 2025 initiative and active engagement with major K-culture figures, the NMK has become a key point of convergence between traditional and contemporary culture. 

By integrating advanced digital technologies with innovative content, the museum continues to strengthen its position as a global cultural leader, providing visitors with deeper and more diverse experiences of Korean history. Enhanced accessibility, such as multilingual guided tours and AI-based service robots, also support international visitors. As it celebrates its 80th year with renewed galleries, the NMK invites visitors to explore its expanded permanent exhibitions and special programs.