"People Lined Up From 4 a.m."...Crowds Flock to Gyeongju Museum for First Silla Gold Crown Exhibition in 104 Years

Six Silla Gold Crowns Displayed Together
Crowds Cause Severe Parking Congestion
Museum: "Visitor Numbers Limited to 2,550 Per Day"

A special exhibition featuring six Silla gold crowns gathered in one place is drawing significant attention. From the very first day, crowds of visitors lined up for the opening, resulting in long queues and congested parking lots. Eventually, the museum decided to limit the number of visitors.

On the 27th, the Silla gold crown was unveiled at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and the 80th Anniversary Special Exhibition of the National Gyeongju Museum. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On November 3, the National Gyeongju Museum announced via its website and social networking service (SNS) accounts that it would restrict the number of visitors to 2,550 per weekday, with a maximum of 150 people per session.

The exhibition, titled 'Silla Gold Crowns: Power and Prestige,' is being held at the Silla History Gallery and brings together a total of 20 artifacts, including Silla's representative cultural heritages such as gold crowns and gold belts. It was organized to commemorate the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and the 80th anniversary of the National Gyeongju Museum.

This exhibition is particularly noteworthy as it presents all six Silla gold crowns together in one place. It is the first time in approximately 104 years that all of the crowns have been displayed together since the discovery of the Geumgwanchong Gold Crown in 1921. The exhibition also offers a concentrated look at Silla’s golden culture, featuring seven national treasures and seven treasures.

President Lee Jae-myung is shaking hands with U.S. President Donald Trump after presenting him with a 'Cheonmachong Gold Crown Replica' at Gyeongju Museum in Gyeongbuk on the 29th. Photo by Yonhap News

In particular, the Silla gold crown recently attracted global attention after President Lee Jaemyung presented a Cheonmachong Gold Crown Model to U.S. President Donald Trump during the Korea-U.S. summit. The actual gold crown modeled in the gift is also on display at this exhibition.

According to the museum, the exhibition has seen a steady stream of visitors from its opening day. Even before the doors opened at 10 a.m., visitors formed long lines, and some reportedly set out as early as 4 a.m. to see the exhibition. As the crowds continued, the museum began distributing numbered tickets on site.

The influx of visitors also caused severe parking congestion. Comments on the museum’s Instagram included complaints such as, "We waited without any notice and ended up leaving," and "The parking lot was a mess." One visitor lamented, "Despite the crowds, there was not a single staff member directing traffic."

In response, the museum stated in the comments, "Far more visitors came than we expected, and on-site guidance was not smooth," adding, "We sincerely apologize for the confusion." The museum also promised, "We will improve our guidance system to prevent similar issues in the future."

The museum plans to continue limiting the number of visitors throughout the exhibition period. After distributing admission tickets on site at around 9:20 a.m., there will be 17 viewing sessions on weekdays and 23 on weekends. Visitors can enter in 30-minute intervals at designated times. The museum explained, "We decided to limit the number of visitors to ensure safety management in the exhibition hall and to provide a pleasant viewing environment." The exhibition runs until December 14.

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