National Museum of Korea proudly presents this special exhibition, under the theme of “500 years of the Joseon Dynasty Maps.” Highlighted in this exhibition is the proud and long tradition of Joseon map production, as these priceless artifacts let us know how the Korean people used to view space and time, and put such view to practical use.
The Korean people have been creating maps for over one and a half millennia ever since the Three Dynasties period, and such legacy continued through the Goryeo and Joseon periods. All the maps created in Joseon for five hundred years in particular are now praised by many as significant accomplishments in the history of East Asian cartology, cartography and historical geography.
This exhibition would actually be the first time ever for a wide range of Joseon maps to be comprehensively displayed, where all the visitors would be able to witness how the Joseon people understood their own country land and spaces they lived in. People will also be stunned how beautiful they are and wonderfully complex in aesthetic terms.
We hope this exhibition to be a truly joyful event for all of you, and an opportunity to appreciate Joseon maps in all their glory. By visiting this exhibition, you are embarking upon a journey which will guide you to meet people in the past, who lived in a country named Joseon that had established a proud culture of cartography and map production. Hopefully it will be one experience you would find worthy of your time.