Taean Gonam Shell Mound Museum to Close from November... Expansion and Renovation Work Until March Next Year

Connecting and Integrating Two Separate Exhibition Halls, Expanding Educational and Experience Spaces

Perspective view of the extension and renovation of Gonam Shell Midden Museum in Taean-gun, Chungnam. /Taean-gun

The expansion and renovation project of the Gonam Shell Mound Museum in Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, will break ground next year.

The county announced that the museum will be closed from November 1 this year to March 2026 to ensure smooth preparation and progress for the expansion and renovation construction, which is scheduled to begin in March next year to increase the scale and content of the Gonam Shell Mound Museum.

The Gonam Shell Mound Museum is a space where visitors can observe artifacts from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, such as comb-pattern pottery and shell mounds, as well as changes through different eras. The county has been discussing the expansion of the museum since 2018, as the exhibition halls are separated into two, making it difficult for visitors to view smoothly, and there is a lack of educational and experiential spaces. In addition, with the opening of National Road No. 77, an increase in visitors is expected.

After receiving final approval for the expansion from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2022, the project gained momentum. This year, the county has been working on the detailed architectural design to ensure thorough preparation.

Through the expansion and renovation project, the county plans to integrate the currently separated Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 into a single space and add a steel-reinforced concrete building with one above-ground and one underground floor, totaling approximately 2,300 square meters. The total project cost is estimated at around 8.8 billion KRW.

The design, inspired by the shape of a shell mound, will establish the museum's identity and actively utilize gentle curves. The plan also includes optimal indoor lighting, a community hall, and various experiential spaces to provide visitors with a wide range of attractions.

Once the expansion and renovation are completed, the exhibition space will increase to 700 square meters, and new facilities for visitors will be added, including an immersive exhibition room, a multipurpose room, an experience room, and an outdoor deck.

A county official stated, "We will strive to make the Gonam Shell Mound Museum a leading museum in the Chungnam region," and added, "We ask for the understanding of residents regarding the temporary closure due to the expansion and renovation work."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.