Taebaek Paleozoic Museum Wins Grand Prize at National Geopark Educational Materials Competition

12 Out of 16 National Geoparks Participate... Prominent Paleozoic Representative Museum Stands Tall

Taebaek City, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Mayor Lee Sang-ho) announced on the 18th that it won the grand prize at the National Geopark Educational Materials Competition, a major event of the '2024 Geopark Festival' held in Buan County, Jeollabuk-do from the 14th to the 16th.

Taebaek Paleozoic Natural History Museum won the grand prize at the National Geopark Educational Materials Competition, a major event of the "2024 Geopark Festival" held for three days from the 14th to the 16th in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, and the officials are taking a commemorative photo.

Since 2020, Taebaek City has been developing two types of educational materials inspired by the characteristics of trilobites fossilized in Paleozoic strata. Subsequently, the city selected target specimens with high experiential value among fossil organisms from the Paleozoic geological era, the theme of the Taebaek Paleozoic Natural History Museum, and has developed a total of six types of educational materials annually to date, utilizing them as educational tools for the museum's experiential programs.

A Taebaek City official stated, "Thanks to our efforts, the unique educational materials available only at the Taebaek Paleozoic Natural History Museum have received great response, resulting in an approximately 210% increase in the number of visitors participating in experiential programs, from 1,296 in 2020 to 4,112 as of August 2024." He added, "This award reflects the shining results of our continuous development efforts for educational materials," and expressed gratitude by saying, "We commend the hard work of our staff and deeply thank the visitors who have come to the museum."

Meanwhile, among the 16 national geoparks nationwide, Taebaek, which won the grand prize at this competition attended by 12 parks, has elevated its status as a specialized museum representing the Paleozoic era through the annual development of educational materials showcasing the diversity of Paleozoic fossil species.