"Physics: Creating the Warmest World with the Coldest Laws"

National Central Science Museum Opens Interactive Physics Exhibition Hall 'Physics Lab'

An interactive exhibition hall that promotes understanding physics through hands-on experiences, rather than just textbook formulas, has opened its doors. The National Central Science Museum has completely revamped its basic science experience exhibitions, launching a new experimental exhibition with physics as its starting point.

On the morning of January 23, the National Central Science Museum held an opening ceremony for its new physics experience exhibition hall, the 'Physics Lab,' and began full-scale operations. Under the slogan, "Physics, Creating the Warmest World with the Coldest Laws," the Physics Lab is an experience-oriented exhibition space designed for visitors to directly touch, experiment, and internalize the principles of physics.

Opening performance of 'Physics Lab.' From the left: Seokjun Son, Director of National Gangwon Specialized Science Museum; Nanhee Lee, Director of National Daegu Science Museum; Seokyun Kwon, Director of Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Jinhee Yoon, President of the Korean Physical Society; Seokmin Kwon, Director of National Science Museum; Hyungjoo Han, Director of National Gwacheon Science Museum; Hoseong Lee, President of Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science; Samjong Song, Director of National Busan Science Museum; Jeonggu Lee, Director of National Gwangju Science Museum. Provided by Ministry of Science and ICT

The opening ceremony was attended by Jinhee Yoon, President of the Korean Physical Society, as well as heads of research institutes in Daedeok Innopolis and directors of national and specialized science museums from across the country, all celebrating this new attempt at popularizing basic science. In her congratulatory remarks, President Yoon emphasized the role of basic science exhibitions, stating, "Physics Lab will serve as an important bridge reconnecting the public, who often find physics difficult, with science."

The First Chapter of 'Science Chapter'... Physics Steps Outside the Textbook

The Physics Lab is the first exhibition under the new basic science remodeling brand 'Science Chapter' being promoted by the National Central Science Museum. Departing from traditional explanation-based and list-style exhibitions, it is designed so that visitors can pose their own questions and find answers through experimentation.

Work on the project began in February 2025 and was completed by December of the same year. After about a month of trial operations, during which visitor feedback was incorporated, the exhibition officially opened. The National Central Science Museum explained, "Our goal was to create a space where people can experience how physics connects to everyday life, moving beyond exhibitions that simply convey knowledge."

The exhibition consists of four zones: ▲ Force and Energy ▲ Heat and Energy ▲ Light and Waves ▲ Electricity and Magnetism. A total of 33 hands-on physics exhibits are available, including two items developed in-house by the museum's Exhibit Development Center.

Visitors are encouraged not just to observe results, but to naturally understand how physics concepts work throughout the experimental process. In particular, the exhibition is designed so that children and teenagers explore processes and principles, rather than simply memorizing "correct answers."

To commemorate the opening of the Physics Lab, the National Central Science Museum is hosting a special event, "Conquer with Physics," from January 23 to January 25. Programs include the "Mission Game," where teams explore physics principles through missions, and "Physics is a Playground," a hands-on program with physics teaching aids.

On January 24, there will be a "Circus Workshop" where participants experience physics through body movement, as well as a special lecture titled "Physics Far Beyond," featuring stories from past Physics Olympiad participants about their career paths. Additionally, from January 24 to 25, the Science Hall will host the "Again CES 2026" event, showcasing CES Innovation Award-winning products and offering on-site lectures.

Seokmin Kwon, Director of the National Central Science Museum, stated, "Physics Lab is a space where physics leaps out of the textbook and can be experienced with the whole body. After a year of preparation, we hope this exhibition will become a new cultural space where the public can enjoy science." He added, "We also ask for your interest in the upcoming chapters of 'Science Chapter,' which will focus on chemistry and life sciences starting in 2026."