A Museum Experience at Home... 'Goguryeo and the Han River' Online Special Exhibition

Exhibition of 241 Goguryeo Artifacts Excavated from the Han River Basin ... 3D Reproduction of the 'Chungju Goguryeo Stele' Included

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Hansung Baekje Museum, temporarily closed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), will start a special online exhibition service to alleviate the cultural thirst of citizens.

The museum announced on the 1st that since it became difficult to open the spring special exhibition "Goguryeo and the Han River," originally prepared for the April opening, to the public for the time being, the curator in charge decided to create and release a commentary video introducing the main contents of the exhibition hall on site.

The 13-minute commentary video features curator Kim Seong-mi, who planned the special exhibition, explaining while moving through the exhibition hall. Anyone can watch it by accessing the main banner on the initial screen of the Hansung Baekje Museum website (https://baekjemuseum.seoul.go.kr/) or the special exhibition corner.

This exhibition was planned with the intention of highlighting the historical significance of Goguryeo's advance into the Han River basin and examining the history of the Han River after the fall of Baekje Hansung. It introduces 241 Goguryeo relics and artifacts discovered in the Han River basin so far and compares them with literary materials recording Goguryeo's advance and control of the Han River basin and the process of Goguryeo's retreat from the Han River.

In the middle of the exhibition, Goguryeo folktales such as "Dorim Legend," "King Anjang and the Han Clan Beauty Legend," and "Ondal Legend" are placed so that not only adults but also children can easily and enjoyably appreciate the exhibition.

The first part of the exhibition, "Goguryeo, Seizing the Han River," deals with Goguryeo's southward policy and the process of advancing into the Han River basin. Through Goguryeo relics and various artifacts found in the Imjin River and Hantan River basins, the Han River basin, and the Geum River basin, visitors can learn about Goguryeo's expansion into the central region of the Korean Peninsula during the 5th to 6th centuries.

The second part, "Goguryeo, Governing the Han River," covers Goguryeo's control over the Han River basin through the Samguk Sagi and archaeological data. It exhibits Goguryeo pottery such as long-bodied jars, cylindrical four-legged pottery, steamers, and pitchers excavated from the Achasan fortress group and Goguryeo tombs; roof tiles including lotus-patterned sumaksae; ironware such as long swords, spears, fish-shaped arrowheads, stirrups, and footrests; and accessories like silver rings and gold earrings.

The third part, "Goguryeo, Losing the Han River," deals with the process of Goguryeo losing the Han River and the emergence of Silla as the new ruler. Exhibits include steamers, bowls, long-bodied jars, long swords, iron pots excavated from the Guui-dong fortress in Seoul, and pottery, ironware, woodenware, and roof tiles recently excavated from Achasan Fortress.

This exhibition also features the "Chungju Goguryeo Stele," reproduced in 3D using advanced scientific technology. This stele, erected by Goguryeo during its southward expansion, depicts the Silla king as a vassal of the Goguryeo king, providing information about the situation in the Chungju area at the time as well as the international situation around the 5th century.

The exhibition runs until June 7, and if offline exhibitions are held depending on the COVID-19 response level, they will be operated by reservation for the time being. During the special exhibition period, a museum university linked to the exhibition will be held 10 times in total, open to anyone interested.