Gochang Dolmen Museum Selected for “2026 National Treasure Traveling Exhibition”

Three Bronze Age Artifacts, Including the Bronze Bell, to Be Displayed

The Gochang World Heritage Dolmen Museum in North Jeolla Province has been selected as a final venue for the “2026 National Treasure Traveling Exhibition” organized by the National Museum of Korea.

Photo of the exhibition during the 2024 Bronze Bell Special Exhibition. Provided by Gochang County

According to the county on December 10, the “National Treasure Traveling Exhibition” is a special exhibition prepared by the National Museum of Korea and local public museums in 2024 to bridge the cultural gap between the Seoul metropolitan area and the provinces and to provide equal opportunities for cultural enjoyment. Visitors will be able to appreciate invaluable cultural heritage such as national treasures and treasures within their own regions.

Only six public museums nationwide have been selected for next year’s program. With this selection, the Gochang World Heritage Dolmen Museum will display three Bronze Age artifacts, totaling five pieces-including the national treasure “Bronze Bell” and the treasure “Bronze Ritual Vessel with Agricultural Motifs”-for approximately three months in the second half of next year.

The “Bronze Bell,” designated as National Treasure No. 146, was donated to the National Museum of Korea by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee. It is presumed to have been used in rituals symbolizing the authority of tribal chiefs or priests.

The “Bronze Ritual Vessel with Agricultural Motifs,” designated as Treasure No. 1823, is known to have been used in agricultural rituals. It depicts figures, farming tools, and fields with abstract lines, providing concrete insight into ceremonies related to agricultural society.

The Gochang World Heritage Dolmen Museum, which opened in 2008 as Korea’s first specialized dolmen museum, offers a comprehensive look at Bronze Age life and the global culture of dolmens. It attracts more than 140,000 visitors annually. Recently, it was recognized for its expertise and academic value by being selected for the third consecutive time as a certified institution in the “2025 Public Museum Evaluation and Certification Program” organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

County Governor Sim Deokseop stated, “It is a highly meaningful achievement for the Gochang World Heritage Dolmen Museum, which represents the Bronze Age and dolmens, to be selected for the National Treasure Traveling Exhibition of Bronze Age artifacts. As these national treasures and treasures are rarely accessible locally, we will do our utmost to prepare the exhibition so that visitors can truly appreciate the value of our cultural heritage.”

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