The National Museum of the Annals of

the Joseon Dynasty reopens its entire facility

to the public on May 1 following an upgrade of

its exhibition, education, and experience functions

 - Permanent Exhibition Gallery and Children's Museum opens,

along with video works and games based on the history of the making

and archiving of the sillok.

A Special Exhibition commemorating the full opening will also be held

from May 1 to July 13.

Korea's National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty(NMAJD, Director Kim Jung-im), under the National Palace Museum of Korea Heritage Service has completed the expansion of its exhibition facilities and content for visitors and will reopen all its facilities to the public on May 1.
* National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty
176, Odaesan-ro, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty is a specialized museum that displays the original Joseon wangjosillok and uigwe (Annals and royal protocols of the Joseon Dynasty). They have been illegally taken to Japan during the Japanese colonial era and finally returned to Odaesan Mountain 110 years later through joint efforts of the Korean government and the Korean people. The museum opened its permanent exhibition gallery in November 2023 to showcase the sillok and uigweto visitors. Since July 2024, the museum temporarilyclosed to enrich its exhibition with diverse exhibition, education, and video contents, as well as to create experiential spaces for children and more resting areas for families with younger children. Following a 10-month renovation, it now reopens its entire facility and welcomes the visitors.
* Joseon wangjosillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, 朝鮮王朝實錄): Royal annals of the 25 kings from 472 years of the Joseon Dynasty (from the first king, Taejo, to the 25th king, Cheoljong), recorded in chronological order by year, month, and day. Designated as national treasure in 1973, 2007, and 2019.
* Joseon wangjouigwe (Royal protocols of the Joseon Dynasty, 朝鮮王朝儀軌): Records with illustrations of the preparation, execution, and post-event procedures of royal ceremonies during the Joseon Dynasty. Designated as treasure in 2016.
* Accumulated number of visitors to the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty: 44,980 (197 days from November 2023 to June 2024)
■ Special Exhibition to Commemorate the Reopening of the Museum, Journey to the Odaesan National History Archives
A special exhibition to celebrate the full reopening of the museum, titled Journey to the Odaesan National History Archives (May 1 to July 13), will be held. The exhibition will display over 40 artifacts highlighting the history of the setup, operation, and decline of the Odaesan National History Archives, where the royal annals were archived. Through maps and drawings from the Joseon period, such as the Dongyeodo (Map of the East) and the GwandongMyeongseungcheop (Drawing Album of Scenic Landscapes in the Gwandong Region), the exhibition follows the footsteps of the ancestors who visited the Odaesan National History Archives during the Joseon period to gain insights on what they thought of the place and the customs related to the Odaesan National History Archives.
After the Japanese Invasions, copies of important royal documents and records of the Joseon Dynasty were archived deep in remote mountain areas, referred to as the oesago (remote history archives, 外史庫). To protect the books from humidity, royal court officials were regularly sent to the history archives to take the documents out for wind-bathing, a practice known as poswae (曝曬)’.
The dispatched historians regarded the assignment as an extreme honor and recorded the experience with poems and stone engravings, in addition to keeping official records. Notable figures like BeonamChae Je-gong and Chusa Kim Jeong-hui were also dispatched to the Odaesan National History Archives as young scholars of the royal court to perform the poswae ritual and later traveled the Gwandong region together. Chusa Kim Jeong-hui recorded his name in the guestbook titled Simheonrok (尋軒錄) at Gangneung Ojukheon after his poswae duty at the Odaesan National History Archives. This guestbook will be on public display for the first time at this exhibition.
* Oesago(外史庫): Archive for important state documents and records. The one in the capital was called naesago (內史庫)’ and those in other regions were called oesago (外史庫).
* Simheonrok (尋軒錄): A guestbook signed by notable figures who visited Ojukheon in Gangneung from the late Joseon Dynasty to the modern era, spanning 270 years. The names of 1,149 people who visited Ojukheon, are recorded, with the first recorded visitor being Kwon Sang-ha in 1662, and the last person on record being Lee Hang-gu in 1932.
■ Odaesan Mountain, Home to the History Archives - the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty in Video
The new Digital Gallery greets the visitors with two 15-minute video works that reinterpret how historical records of the Joseon Dynasty were made into a sillok and were archived for centuries at the Odaesan National History Archives. The video works present unique visual experiences to the visitors by dividing the large screen into smaller sections and creating 3D images by changing the screen combinations.
■ Children's Museum with Animals from the Sillok
The Children's Museum welcomes young children and their families with interesting programs based on the sillok and the Odaesan National History Archives, featuring different animals that appear in the sillok. Under the title The King's Treasure Vault in the Forest, Odaesan National History Archives, friendly characters of cats, parrots, tigers, foxes, monkeys, camels, and elephants greet the young visitors and help them learn and experience the making and archiving processes of the sillok and uigwe.
Sagak (History Hall), the building where the sillok was archived, has also been recreated inside the experiential space for children, using digital game format contents that engage the young visitors with fun and easy-to-understand explanations on how the sillok was made and archived.
The Children's Museum plans to collaborate with local kindergarten and elementary schools to operate various educational and experiential programs, to offer more cultural activitiesfor the local community, and to serve as a venue for rich educational experiences for future generations.
■ Permanent Exhibition on the Moving Story of How the Sillok and Uigwe (Annals and Royal Protocols) of the Joseon Dynasty Were Compiled and Returned
The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty is the only place where visitors can view the original sillok at the permanent exhibitions, composed of three parts.
▲ Part 1Odaesan National History Archives, History of the Joseon Dynasty Hidden in the Deep Mountains 

▲ Part 2Joseon WangjoSillok, Guarding the History of the Joseon Dynasty
▲ Part 3Joseon WangjoUigwe, Illustrating the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty
The exhibition traces the journey of the Joseon wangjosillok and uigwe from their compilation and archiving in various locations*, through their illegal removal to Japan during the Japanese colonial period in 1913, and to their safe return to the original home at Odaesan Mountain after 110 years. This journey also highlights the importance and significance of recovering national heritage that had been taken abroad.
The Odaesan National History Archives edition of the sillok has corrections marked in red ink, which are not found in other editions. The uigwe at the Odaesan National History Archivesis also even more vibrantly colored as it was made specifically for the king. The visitors will be captivated by the excellence of our documentary heritage, based on the meticulous record-keeping practice of the royal court.
* During the Joseon Dynasty, important state and royal records were made in multiple copies and archived in various locations for safekeeping.
■ Golden Holiday Week in May: Rich Cultural Events Attract Visitors
On April 30, the day before the reopening of the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, an opening ceremony will be held with the participation of Choi Eung-chon, Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, as well as local and other dignitaries. On May 1, the opening day, the first 100 visitors to the museum will receive a special gift. To attract more visitors during the holiday week (May 1-5), the museum will host an “Outdoor Libary” (May 1–5), a “Talk Show with Authors”, featuring Mujeok Pink, the creator of the webtoonThe Chat of Joseon Dynasty, and Park Si-baek, the author of Park Si-baek'sAnnals of the Joseon Dynasty, as well as a “Traditional Magic Performance” (May 5). There will also be a “Photo Challenge” where visitors who upload their pictures taken at the museum on various SNS channels will receive a special gift (First come first served basis).

 

Admission to the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynastyis free.
The museum is closed every Monday. During the winter season (November to February), it operates from 09:30 to 17:00, and during the summer season (March to October), from 09:30 to 17:30. For more information, please visit the Korea Heritage Service website (https://khs.go.kr), the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty website (https://sillok.gogung.go.kr/), and the National Palace Museum YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@gogungmuseum).
The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, under the National Palace Museum of Korea, strives to become a service-oriented museum with specialized expertise, a world-class museum with international recognition, and a welcoming museum open to all through various exhibitions, educational programs, and hands-on experiences utilizing the Joseon wangjosillok and uigwe (Annals and Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty), which are national heritage and UNESCO Memory of the World. The museum also seeks to establish itself as a central institution for research, investigation, exhibitions, and education activities related to the Joseon wangjosillok and uigwe, promoting mutual prosperity with the local community.

Attachment
1. Introduction to the National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.
2. Reference materials for the Odaesan National History Archivesedition of the Joseon wangjosillok and uigwe.
3. Photos.
End.