Is That the Clock on the 10,000 Won Bill?

If you look at the rear of the ten thousand won bill, a part of the National Treasure Honcheon Shigye (Armillary Clock) called the “Honcheonui” is depicted. I sometimes take out a ten thousand won bill from my wallet and explain the important meaning of the Honcheon Shigye (Armillary Clock). In the sense that it assimilated Western science and technology into our tradition and on this basis constituted a new technology, I sometimes connect it with the way in which Korea University is not simply a Korean institution but is growing into a global one. In addition to the Honcheon Shigye (Armillary Clock), over 600 items are exhibited in the museum, including National Treasure 'Donggwoldo’ (painting); antique paintings by Jeongseon Kim Hong-do; modern and contemporary art pieces by Lee Jung-seob, Park Soo-keun and Kwon Jin-gyu; as well as historical records that inform us about Korea University's evolution.

Our museum strives to become a cultural space that transcends the university boundaries and interacts with the local community through diverse exhibitions, cultural lectures and educational programs, as well as through the collection and preservation of its artifacts, and research into them. In particular, the programs aimed at elementary, middle, and high school students – potentially our future Korea University students – and local residents have been well-received for their high quality. From 2004, the museum has also been responsible for the collection, curation, and exhibition of the university's historical materials, and has served as a hub for the management of university administrative documents.

KU Museum and You

I remember a conversation I had with a student intern at the museum last October. They asked me what kind of institution I'd like our museum to become. My answer was that I hoped it would increasingly be a space where members of the school community, especially students, could develop an appreciation for the fine works displayed there. I also replied that I hoped it would become a place where residents and citizens of the neighboring community could come with their children and feel closer to Korea University. Additionally, as it is the museum of Korea University, I also feel there is a need for a space within it where members of our school can exhibit materials they wish to leave behind.

The museum is a treasure trove that is close to our students. Have you perhaps just passed by it until now, thinking that it was a place that had nothing to do with you? When things aren’t going well with your studies or in some other way, I recommend that you pay a visit to the museum, stand before artifacts in which many years are layered or works that are replete with the artist's craft, joy and anguish, and have a silent conversation with them. If you do, you can find a deeper and wider perspective from which to look beyond your immediate situation or identify a thread with which to approach old problems from a new angle. I think you'll find it a rich experience. All the artifacts or paintings are worth your attention, but how wonderful would it be if you found a piece that speaks to you and you could organize and unravel your tangled thoughts while standing before that work? With this possibility in mind, I hope you visit the museum often, without hesitation.

Regrettably, the museum is currently closed. During the long winter, behind the closed doors of the museum efforts are being made to check the status of the collection and maintain the museum’s systems. For the upcoming 120th anniversary of Korea University's founding, we plan to hold a special exhibition featuring 120 important, carefully selected artifacts from the museum and library collections. Additionally, based on the historical records we have curated, we are planning to delineate the university's journey in fulfilling its mission as a university for the nation in a text, The 120-Year History of Korea University. So you can look forward to the reopening of a new-look Korea University Museum.