National Museum of Korea

[Buddhist Culture_Majesty] The Grand and Monumental Iron Buddha

The moment you stand before this Buddha, you are struck silence. Rising to a height of 2.81 meters and weighing 6.2 tons, this seated iron Shakyamuni Buddha is the largest surviving iron Buddha in Korea. Its massive frame cast from solid iron, the imposing shoulders, and the broadly anchored knees instantly overwhelm the viewer. The right hand, lowered gently toward the earth, signifies the exact moment the Buddha attained supreme enlightenment. What did the people of the distant past pray for as they looked up at this towering presence? Come and stand before this Buddha yourself; feel majesty and tranquility as one, and the immense power that faith can hold.

Buddha | Goryeo, 10th century | Buddhist Sculpture Gallery

#국립중앙박물관

Download our June 2026 calendar featuring A Wash Place from Album of Genre Paintings by Kim Hongdo.

This month’s calendar spotlights A Wash Place, a masterpiece from the Album of Genre Paintings by Kim Hongdo.

On display in our Calligraphy and Painting Gallery since May as the seasonal highlight, this captivating painting captures the unvarnished everyday lives of women washing clothes by a flowing stream. An intriguing element is added by a seonbi, or literati scholar, peeking at them from behind a rock with his face partially concealed by a folding fan. Such a playful setting depicting a furtive, secret gaze between men and women is an exceptional rarity seldom found in Kim Hongdo’s other genre scenes.

Download the June 2026 calendar from our blog. Come see this rare, timeless masterpiece in person in the Calligraphy and Painting Gallery.

Calendar download
https://blog.naver.com/100museum/224297730880

Seasonal Highlights | Kim Hongdo: Painting His Era
Calligraphy and Painting Gallery
May 4–August 2, 2026
Free admission (no tickets required)

김홍도의 '빨래터'가 있는 2026년 6월 달력! 김홍도의 ‘빨래터'가 있는 달력 다운로드하고 2026년 6월도 국립중앙박물관과 함께하세요! 2026년 6...

Dear visitors,

We would like to inform you that the indoor exhibition galleries (both Permanent and Special Exhibitions) at the National Museum of Korea will be closed on Monday, 1 June 2026 for our regular maintenance day.

However, the Pagoda Garden and our peaceful outdoor spaces will remain open as usual. We warmly invite you to step outside, bask in the gentle sunlight, and enjoy the lush greenery. Take a leisurely stroll around the Mirror Pond, and perhaps share a quiet, reflective moment with our centuries-old stone pagodas. These timeless treasures are all yours to discover.

Please find our future closure dates and regular opening hours below to help plan your next visit.

2026 Exhibition Closure Dates
1 June (Mon), 7 September (Mon), 7 December (Mon)

2026 Museum Closure Dates
Chuseok Day (Korean Thanksgiving Day).

Regular Opening Hours
Open daily 9:30am–5:30pm (Last admission: 5:00pm)
Late opening until 9:00pm on Wed. and Sat. (Last admission: 8:30pm)

We look forward to welcoming you back to our galleries soon.

[Bond_Loyalty] Virtues Embodied in Letters

This Munja-do (Pictorial Ideographs) features eight essential virtues expressed in classical Chinese characters. With each character being an ideogram carrying a distinct meaning, every single character independently embodies a specific value—such as filial piety, loyalty, propriety, or righteousness. Within the strokes of each character, stories and symbols connected to its unique meaning are intricately woven. If you look closely at the character for loyalty (chung, 忠) in Image 2, you will find a dragon and a fish embedded within its strokes. People placed these folding screens inside their homes and encountered them in everyday life, reflecting on the values considered essential within relationships. What values are reflected in your own place?

Pictorial Ideographs | Joseon, late 19th century | Calligraphy and Painting Gallery

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[Bond_Loyalty] Loyalty Held Through Times of Trial

In Korea, the values considered essential to important relationships were preserved through books. Samganghaengsil-do (Illustrated Guide to the Three Bonds) presents stories of individuals who exemplified loyalty to the state, filial devotion to parents, and faithfulness between spouses, combining text and illustration to offer exemplary models for these relationships. To make the book accessible to a wider audience, every story was accompanied by illustrations, along with explanations written in both classical Chinese and Hangeul. First published in the early Joseon Dynasty, the book gradually reached readers across society. Today, the Joseon Gallery at the National Museum of Korea displays stories centered on the relationship between ruler and subject. Remaining loyal to one’s sovereign, even during times of crisis, was regarded as a fundamental virtue in Joseon society.

Illustrated Guide to the Three Bonds | Joseon, 1726 | Joseon Gallery | Reprint of a 15th-century original

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