First-Ever Exhibition of All Four Surviving Copies of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty... Special Exhibition at Busan Museum Opens

In Commemoration of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee


"Featuring 195 Items Including National Treasures and Treasured Artifacts"

For the first time in history, all four surviving copies of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty will be brought together in one place. Coinciding with the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, a special exhibition has also been organized to highlight the documentary heritage and royal culture of the Joseon Dynasty.

The Busan Museum (Director: Jung Eunwoo) and the National Palace Museum of Korea (Director: Bae Minseong) announced on July 6 that they will jointly host a special exhibition titled “Records and Culture of Joseon, To Be Passed Down Forever” from July 7 to August 30.

This exhibition is designed to explore the spirit of record-keeping in the Joseon Dynasty, royal culture, and the history of foreign exchanges centered on Dongnae-bu.

The exhibition will feature a total of 195 items from 166 collections, including the UNESCO Memory of the World-listed “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,” “Diary of the Royal Secretariat (Seungjeongwon Ilgi),” “Ilseongnok,” Joseon Dynasty Uigwe (Royal Protocols), royal seals and certificates, records of the Joseon Tongsinsa (diplomatic missions to Japan), as well as portraits of King Yeongjo and King Cheoljong, the “Donggwoldo” painting, a white porcelain moon jar, and other national treasures and treasures. The exhibition includes 18 national treasures, 22 treasures, 12 national folk cultural heritage items, and 33 UNESCO Memory of the World items.

The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, a national treasure and UNESCO Memory of the World.

The exhibition is organized into three sections. The first section, “The Nation of Records, Joseon,” focuses on the record-keeping and preservation systems of the dynasty. The second section, “Symbols and Dignity of the Joseon Royal Family,” introduces the culture and arts of the royal court. The third section, “The Window of Joseon, Dongnae-bu,” highlights the history of Dongnae-bu as a center of exchange with Japan after the Imjin War and the peaceful diplomacy conducted via the Joseon Tongsinsa missions.

A particular highlight is the public display of all four surviving copies of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty: the Jeongjoksan, Taebaeksan, Odaesan, and Jeoksangsan archives. This is the first time these four volumes have been exhibited together. However, the Taebaeksan archive will only be on display until August 2.

An audio guide, docent commentary, and historical programs with curators will be available for visitors.

Admission to the exhibition is free, and the museum is closed every Monday. However, the museum will be open as usual on the substitute holiday of August 17, and will be closed on the following day, August 18. During the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, on July 17, 18, 24, and 25, the museum will remain open until 9 p.m. for night viewing.

In the museum’s outdoor garden, Han Wonseok’s installation art project “Re:moon,” linked to the special exhibition, will be on display until August 30, and the garden will be open daily until 10 p.m.

Jung Eunwoo, Director of the Busan Museum, said, “This is a meaningful exhibition where visitors can experience the documentary heritage and royal culture of Joseon all in one place. We hope that the hosting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan will serve as an opportunity to raise global awareness of the value of our cultural heritage.”

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