The "Carp Inkstone" That Attracted National Attention With a 50,000 Won Costume: Donated by Lee Kun-hee

Depicting the Legend of "Deungyongmun": The Carp Swimming Upstream to Become a Dragon

Donation from Former Chairman Lee Kun-hee and His Family

First Public Exhibition at the National Museum of Korea Until October 22

At the "2026 Gukjungbak Costume Play" event, the "white porcelain inkstone shaped like a carp," which won the grand prize and quickly became a star relic, is now on display in its actual form for visitors. While it first became a hot topic as a "cute relic" thanks to its unique expression and plump body, it has garnered even more attention after it was revealed to symbolize "Deungyongmun (登龍門)"—the carp that swims upstream against the strong current to become a dragon—and to be part of the "Lee Kun-hee Collection" donated to the nation by the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee and his family.

Due to its unique expression and plump body shape, the white porcelain carp-shaped water dropper first became a hot topic as a "cute relic." It carries the meaning of 'Deungnyongmun (登龍門),' which symbolizes a carp overcoming strong currents to become a dragon. National Museum of Korea

On September 28, Yonhap News TV reported that the National Museum of Korea has been exhibiting the "white porcelain inkstone shaped like a carp" at the Buncheong Ware and White Porcelain Room on the third floor of its permanent exhibition hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, since the 23rd, attracting many visitors. This marks the first public exhibition since the piece was donated as part of the Lee Kun-hee Collection and will continue until October 22.

Estimated to have been made during the Joseon Dynasty, this artifact is a small blue-and-white inkstone, measuring just 9.4 cm in height and 10.6 cm in length. An inkstone is a writing implement that holds water needed to grind ink on an inkstone. However, the story within the carp inkstone is grand, despite its small size. The piece depicts the tale of a carp overcoming a strong current to ascend the "Dragon Gate" in the upper reaches of China’s Yellow River and transforming into a dragon. This is the origin of the term "Deungyongmun," meaning to pass through a difficult gateway and achieve success or rise to a significant position.

A close look at the artifact reveals undulating waves in cobalt blue under the carp. The carp, with its rounded body, large eyes, and open mouth, is captured mid-leap above the water's surface. The reason this small relic, crafted centuries ago, suddenly garnered public attention was because of the "2026 Gukjungbak Costume Play" held on September 19.

The Most Talked-About Performance: 275 Teams, 643 Participants

This year, 275 teams and 643 participants from across the country took part in the event. After regional finals in places like Chuncheon (Gangwon Province), Gongju (Chungnam Province), Daegu, and Jeonju (Jeonbuk Province), 25 teams advanced to the finals at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul. Thousands of spectators flocked to the venue to cheer for the participants’ creative relic recreations, and it was Eunseul Jeon—a university student preparing for graduation and employment—who took home the grand prize.

The topic gained even more attention as Mr. Jeon, a job seeker, and the symbolism of the "carp ascending the gateway to success" strangely aligned. Mr. Jeon also shared his thoughts, stating that as he was contemplating what he was good at before graduating from university, he gained courage through this competition. National Museum of Korea SNS

Jeon wore a form-fitting costume decorated with the blue wave patterns of the inkstone and painted large carp eyes and a mouth on her face. On stage, she humorously re-enacted a carp's movements by flapping her legs on the floor or making lively leaps, imitating it jumping out of the water. Unlike other participants who used elaborate props and grand setups, Jeon’s relatively simple costume captured the artifact’s features with great accuracy, earning an explosive response from the audience. The cost of the costume was said to be about 50,000 won.

Jeon explained that she searched the National Museum of Korea’s website collection to find a unique and modern artifact, rather than simply choosing a well-known piece. In a broadcast interview, she said she scrolled from the back pages to the front of the museum's online archive searching for something with contemporary appeal. Having always liked quirky and cute characters, she was drawn to the carp's round eyes and distinctive mouth.

A Job Seeker’s Story Resonates, Creating a Sensation

The sensation grew even bigger as the symbolism of the "carp climbing the gateway to success" closely aligned with Jeon, a job seeker. Jeon herself noted that she gained courage from the competition as she was reflecting on her strengths before graduating from university. Friends even combined the words "carp" and "influencer," nicknaming her an "Ingfluencer."

As photos and videos of her performance spread across social media platforms, netizens expressed heightened interest in the artifact itself. Comments included: "I saw the costume first and was surprised by how much the real artifact resembles it," "I had no idea such an artifact existed," "It's so cute, like a character product, despite being hundreds of years old," and "The story of a job seeker winning the grand prize as the gateway carp is perfect."

Since its inception in 2024, the 'Gukjungbak Role-Playing Game' has established itself as a flagship participatory event of the museum, going beyond a simple one-time cosplay event. National Museum of Korea

The "Gukjungbak Costume Play" event, first launched in 2024, has evolved beyond a simple one-time cosplay activity into a signature participatory event for the museum. Following a burst of interest on social media last year, this year’s edition expanded nationwide, with participants actively seeking out lesser-known relics and interpreting them in creative new ways—not just celebrated cultural assets.

Of special note is the trend of people researching the names and histories of the original artifacts rather than just enjoying the fun costumes. The youth culture of playful reinterpretation has brought attention back to the museum’s lesser-known collection. In response to this surge of interest, the National Museum of Korea quickly relocated the inkstone from its storage to the permanent exhibition hall, allowing visitors to compare the actual relic with its costumed reinterpretation side by side.

The director of the National Museum of Korea expressed hope that visitors will enjoy the opportunity to see in person the original artifact that inspired the grand-prize-winning costume, and to experience the delight of comparing the relic with its creative reinterpretation.

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