Seokguram Blossoms in Paris to Celebrate 140 Years of Korea-France Relations

National Heritage Administration Opens Special Exhibition on "Seokguram"

In celebration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, an event was held in Paris to promote Korea's national heritage. The National Heritage Administration, together with the Korean Cultural Center in France and Gyeongju City, launched a special exhibition titled "The Mystery of a Millennium of Buddhist Art, Seokguram" and a visit campaign, "Korea On Stage in Paris," on October 1. The visit campaign runs until October 7, and the special exhibition continues until March 13 next year.

Seokguram Grotto.

The National Heritage Promotion Agency art troupe kicked off the visit campaign with a 30-minute performance at Trocadéro Square, featuring street parades, lion dance, Kkwaenggwari (small gong) performance, Sogo (small hand drum) dance, Jindo drum dance, spinning plate performance (beona nori), and a rhythmic percussion ensemble (samul yuldu-bal). At the opening ceremony of the special exhibition held at the Korean Cultural Center in France, Hyukwoon Kwon, Korean Ambassador to France, delivered the opening address, followed by congratulatory remarks from Gilbae Lee, Director of Heritage Policy at the National Heritage Administration, and Nakyoung Joo, Mayor of Gyeongju.

The exhibition features the restored 'Green-Robed Guardian Wall Painting' (Nokyushinjangbyeokjeon) that once decorated the base of the wooden pagoda at the Four Heavenly Kings Temple site in Gyeongju. This work is considered a masterpiece of Silla Buddhist art. Attendees also explored the history and artistic value of Seokguram, as well as its architectural techniques and achievements in conservation and research. They watched a three-dimensional immersive video that vividly recreates the interior of Seokguram and experienced temple cuisine prepared by the Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation.

Restored Sachunwangsa Temple Green-Glazed Guardian Deity Wall Painting.

Related events will continue throughout Paris until October 7. At the Cultural Center, visitors can experience exhibitions using a French-language version of the national heritage visitor passport, make bojagi (traditional wrapping cloth) keychains, and participate in traditional games and craft experiences. The "Ieojigyo" experience zone features a three-dimensional teaching kit of Seokguram, as well as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) content, and tactile models. At Gustave Flaubert Middle School and the Paris Korean School, local youth can participate in Korean language education and take part in a rubbing experience of the Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon, the annotated edition of Korea's phonetic script.

On October 5 and 6, experts from the Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage will deliver academic lectures on "Seokguram and Silla Buddhism" and "The Life and Death of Silla People," introducing Seokguram and Silla Buddhist culture as well as the results of the excavation of Tomb No. 44 at Jjoksaem and Wolseong.

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