"Experience the Lab Like a Game"...Government-Funded Institutes’ Promotion Hall Transforms with Storytelling

NST Integrated Hall Opens at the National Science Museum
Seven Institutes Including KIST and ETRI Participate

An exhibition showcasing the achievements of government-funded research institutes will undergo a complete transformation into a "storytelling, hands-on experience." Moving away from a simple display format, the new exhibition allows visitors to become "rookie agents" who explore the institutes, making science and technology more accessible and engaging.

The National Science Museum announced that, in collaboration with the National Research Council of Science and Technology, it has newly established the "NST-Institute Joint Promotion Hall" on the first floor of the Science and Technology Hall, which will open to the public starting April 22, 2026.

NST-Institute Joint Promotion Center Poster. Provided by the National Museum of Korea

This promotion hall is an expanded and revamped version of the permanent exhibition space, based on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the two organizations in 2025. It is designed to allow the public to directly experience the achievements of government-funded research institutes. In particular, the exhibition focuses on connecting the past and the future as one continuous narrative, marking the "anniversary year" of major institutes in 2026.

The seven participating institutes include the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year; the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, and Korea Institute of Materials Science, all marking their 50th anniversary; and the Korea Railroad Research Institute, celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Become a "Rookie Agent" and Explore the Lab...Transition to an Experiential Exhibition

The exhibition is distinctive in that it adopts the theme of a "National Research Institute Infiltration Operation." Visitors take on the role of "rookie agents," exploring the laboratories of the seven institutes and experiencing their achievements and roles in a game-like manner.

The exhibition is structured into four narrative stages: the "Past Zone," which captures the passion of researchers; the "Present Zone," centered on 3D interactive experiences; the "Future Zone," which visualizes the technology roadmap; and the final "Agent Registration" stage, where visitors complete their scientist experience.

Through this format, the achievements of government-funded research institutes are presented as "participatory content" rather than a simple display, with the goal of helping young visitors explore career paths in science and technology.

Kwon Seokmin, Director of the National Science Museum, stated, "The museum serves as a platform connecting the public with science and technology. By collaborating with government-funded research institutes, we aim to deliver R&D achievements in a more accessible and engaging manner."

Kim Youngsik, Chairman of the National Research Council of Science and Technology, commented, "This exhibition acts as a window showing how the achievements of government-funded institutes have contributed to people’s daily lives. We hope it will inspire imagination and dreams among future science talents."

With the National Science Museum attracting around 1 million visitors annually, the new promotion hall is expected to serve as a hub for science and technology communication, linking to educational programs such as special lectures by researchers in the future.

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