Marine Life of Jeong Yakjeon's 'JasanEobo' Revived by AI

Special Exhibition "JasanEobo, Revived by AI"
Experience Marine Life Through Interactive and AI-Powered Programs

The National Science Museum will hold a special exhibition titled 'JasanEobo, Revived by AI - Jeong Yakjeon, the Joseon Scientist Who Recorded the Sea' at the Korea Science and Technology Museum from June 27 to July 24 to mark the first anniversary of the museum's opening.

This special exhibition, created in collaboration with the Silhak Museum and the Dasan Museum, focuses on Jeong Yakjeon's book JasanEobo, a work by the Joseon-era Silhak scholar. Rather than approaching JasanEobo solely as a Silhak text, the exhibition explores its meaning from the perspective of modern science. In addition, it brings together Jeong Yakjeon's records and artificial intelligence (AI) to revive illustrations of marine life from 200 years ago.

'JasanEobo, Revived by AI' Special Exhibition Poster. Provided by the National Museum of Korea

JasanEobo is an encyclopedia of marine life written by Jeong Yakjeon in 1814 during his exile on Heuksando. The National Science Museum has registered and manages the 'manuscript of JasanEobo held by the National Library of Korea' as a 'National Important Science and Technology Material.'

The special exhibition features interactive displays where visitors can classify similar marine organisms themselves, just as Jeong Yakjeon did. The exhibition is also structured to help visitors naturally understand the content of the book by following the writing process, in which Jeong Yakjeon gathered biological information based on knowledge he heard from people around him.

Through AI, the text-only JasanEobo has been transformed into an illustrated encyclopedia, allowing visitors to encounter marine life through AI-generated images. There is also an experiential space where visitors can become AI art creators themselves, drawing and exhibiting images of marine organisms.

Kwon Seokmin, Director of the National Science Museum, said, "This exhibition was planned to promote Jeong Yakjeon's JasanEobo, an outstanding scientific heritage of Korea, and to encourage people to enjoy it as part of our scientific culture." He added, "I hope visitors will have a refreshing summer break, like the cool sea, filled with valuable scientific knowledge." Detailed information about the special exhibition can be found on the National Science Museum website.