Geoscience Theme ... Promotion of National Pohang Specialized Science Museum Construction

Geology, Earth, and Ocean: Geo Science Themed Science Education and Culture Space

Pohang, Distribution of Neogene Tertiary Strata... A Geological Cultural Heritage Site

Pohang City is actively promoting the construction of the Geo Science National Pohang Specialized Science Museum to enhance the region's scientific culture capabilities through the expansion of scientific culture programs and infrastructure.

The National Pohang Specialized Science Museum is a project that Pohang City is pursuing in consultation with Gyeongbuk Province and the Ministry of Science and ICT starting this year. The city is promoting the construction of a specialized science museum themed around Geo Science, which refers to geology and earth sciences.

Guryongpo Seongdong-ri Petrified Wood.

Since last year, the city has been preparing for the establishment of the national specialized science museum by conducting research services for the construction of the Pohang Science Museum. The specialized science museum will be centered on geology, earth, and marine (deep sea) sciences and will be composed of the Geo Heritage Zone, Ai Geo Zone, Deep Sea Zone, and Kid Geo Zone, creating a science education and cultural space where visitors can understand nature through science and grasp its principles.

Once the construction of the science museum is finalized, Pohang City plans to build the museum on a site in Nam-gu with a total floor area of 7,000㎡ and three above-ground floors, aiming for completion in 2027.

Pohang is a young land where the latest geological era in Korea, the Neogene period of the Cenozoic era, is distributed. It possesses precious geological resources unique to Pohang, such as columnar joints as traces of volcanic activity and fossils of organisms from the Neogene period of the Cenozoic era.

It is a treasure trove of geological cultural heritage, including the ‘Geumgwang-ri Cenozoic Fossil Wood,’ Korea’s first natural monument fossil wood publicly revealed in 2009, and recently discovered giant fossil wood in the Guryongpo Seongdong-ri stream.

Moreover, having experienced the 2017 induced earthquake and the unprecedented Typhoon Hinnamnor damage in 2022, the region plans to build the science museum by integrating AI technologies such as simulation experiences and supercomputers to help understand ocean currents, geology, and weather based on these vivid experiences.

Pohang, a representative marine city that has grown centered around the sea, will scientifically explain deep-sea ecosystem reproduction, marine exploration, deep-sea scientific expeditions, and deep-sea geological resources.

The children’s science museum will provide opportunities for children to experience scientific culture by establishing a children’s disaster prevention science education space and offering various scientific career experiences through cooperation among industry, academia, and research institutes.

Deputy Mayor Kim Nam-il said, “In consultation with Gyeongbuk Province and the Ministry of Science and ICT, we will strive to establish the Geo Science National Pohang Specialized Science Museum, which contains precious geological and marine resources unique to Pohang as well as the experiences and know-how of a city that has endured natural disasters.” He added, “Through the establishment of the only national science museum in Gyeongbuk Province, we will expand opportunities for scientific enjoyment for Pohang citizens and Gyeongbuk residents and contribute to revitalizing the local economy as a landmark of Pohang City.”

Under the Ministry of Science and ICT, there are a total of seven national science museums, including the planned National Gangwon Specialized Science Museum and National Ulsan Carbon Neutral Science Museum, as well as the National Central Science Museum, National Gwacheon Science Museum, National Gwangju Science Museum, National Daegu Science Museum, and National Busan Science Museum.