Highlighting Yi Sun-sin Beyond the Hero: Over 400,000 Visitors to National Museum Exhibition

The special exhibition "Our Yi Sun-sin" at the National Museum of Korea has surpassed 400,000 visitors, setting a new record for the popularity of domestic cultural heritage exhibitions.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are viewing Admiral Yi Sun-sin's long sword at the special exhibition "Our Yi Sun-sin" held on the 26th at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

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On March 4, the National Museum of Korea announced that the special exhibition "Our Yi Sun-sin," which opened on November 28 last year and concluded on March 3, recorded a total of 407,045 visitors. The exhibition ran for 96 days, attracting more than 4,200 visitors per day on average.

This marks the highest attendance ever for a special exhibition on Korean cultural heritage at the National Museum of Korea. Among all special exhibitions held at the museum, it ranks third in history, following the Louvre Museum Exhibition from France (over 520,000 visitors) and the Egyptian Civilization Exhibition (440,000 visitors).

The exhibition was organized to commemorate the 480th anniversary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's birth and the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation. Rather than focusing solely on his heroic image as a "national hero," it also highlighted the personal struggles and life of Yi Sun-sin as a human being.

The exhibition hall featured 369 relics across 258 items, including the original handwritten "Nanjung Ilgi" diary written by Yi Sun-sin during the Imjin War, his long sword engraved with words of resolve, the "Imjin Jangcho" which recorded wartime situations, as well as letters and other materials. With rare national treasures and treasures gathered in one place, the exhibition drew significant public interest.

Yoo Hongjun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, is taking a commemorative photo with the winning visitors of the event celebrating 300,000 attendees of the special exhibition "Our Yi Sunshin" held on the 19th at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

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In particular, the immersive displays combining phrases from the Nanjung Ilgi with video and sound throughout the exhibition space were praised for resonating with visitors across generations and nationalities.

During the exhibition, major figures such as Prime Minister Kim Minseok, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwiyoung, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, and 87 members of diplomatic missions from 68 countries visited the event. On February 26, President Lee Jaemyung and First Lady Kim Hyekyung also toured the exhibition hall.

Yoo Hongjun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, stated, "The exhibition, which shed light on Yi Sun-sin as not only the greatest hero in our history but also as a human being, received overwhelming support from the public," adding, "It serves as an example that the profound narratives and inspiration embodied in our cultural heritage possess global competitiveness."

The museum plans to continue its "Our" series of exhibitions this year. In July, it will present the special exhibition "Our Table," which spotlights the origins and evolution of Korean cuisine. Before that, in June, a special exhibition introducing Thai culture and art is scheduled to be held.

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