National Museum of Korea

The National Museum of Korea was established in 1945 on Korea's liberation from Japan in the Second World War and is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea.  With over 3 million visitors annually, the museum is one of the largest museums in Asia and one of the most visited in the world.

The museum galleries each highlight a significant era in Korean history, starting with the Paleolithic Period (3 million years ago to 10,000 years ago).  On approaching the museum, the grounds and building are truly impressive.

Museum grounds

I first visit works of calligraphy collected and created by the kings of Korea, carved into stone to be preserved for later generations.

 Royal calligraphy

The next gallery features an Exhibition "Dreaming Eternal Happiness," featuring images of happiness as imagined by Koreans of the past, in calligraphy and paintings."

Dreaming Eternal Happiness

Several galleries offer paintings and sculptures of Buddha, large and small.

Buddha

Exhibitions of Korean wood and lacquer furniture are shown gathered together to highlight the furnishings of each room of the house.

 Wood and lacquer furniture

A gallery of donations from private collectors offers a wide variety of items on display.

 Private collections

Another gallery offers art of Central Asia, India, and Southeast Asia.

 Central, Southeast Asia, and India

At the end of my visit, I come across the Prehistoric and Ancient History and the Medieval and Early Modern History galleries.

 Ancient, medieval, and early modern times

Wow, there is a lot to see in this museum and I can only share a brief taste of the experience.  It's definitely a great place to explore and learn about Korea and its history and people.