Two interesting exhibitions are underway in Gyeongsang-do (North and South Gyeongsang Provinces). 


The first is the “Dalseong, Matrix of Daegu” exhibit that has been going on at the Daegu National Museum. The exhibition focuses on the history of Dalseong-gun (Dalseong County) in central Daegu, a county known for the Dalseong Fortress built during the Three Kingdoms period (57 B.C.-A.D. 668) and also known as being home to many ancient tombs. 

Also called Dalseong Park, the neighborhood has kept its ramparts intact. Meanwhile, the complex of Dalseong’s old tombs, situated in the western and southern parts of the county, has lost many of its characteristics to urbanization since the 1920s. 

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Earthenware excavated from ancient tombs in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, date back to the Three Kingdoms period. They are on display at the ‘Dalseong, Matrix of Daegu’ exhibition underway at the Daegu National Museum in Daegu.


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A saddle decoration from one of the ancient tombs that date back to the Three Kingdoms period, during the fifth and sixth centuries, is excavated in Dalseong-gun, Daegu.


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A turtle-shaped earthenware artifact from one of the ancient tombs that date back to the Three Kingdoms period is found in Dalseong-gun, Daegu.



The exhibit has brought together relics excavated from what’s called the “roots of Daegu,” Dalseong, and has put the artifacts into five categories: the people of Dalgubeol, the old name of Daegu, who settled in Dalseong; urbanization that has taken a toll on the ancient tombs in Dalseong; the complex of ancient tombs in Dalseong and their unveiling; grave artifacts and how they reveal many aspects of the ruling classes; and, lastly, the excavation of ancient tombs in Dalseong and afterward. 

More than 1,500 relics are on exhibit here, including two gilt-bronze crowns and decorative long swords. They allow museum-goers to trace the people and monarchs of the region during their own times. 

For a better understanding, a set of video clips related to Dalseong's history can be enjoyed, while on Saturdays a variety of programs are organized that focus on earthenware from the Three Kingdoms period. 

“This exhibition traces the past 100 years of Dalseong by looking at research and excavated artifacts across the county,” said an official from the Daegu National Museum. “Traveling in a time capsule back to ancient times, people will have an opportunity to feel how important Dalseong’s legacy actually is.” 

The exhibition continues until February 22 at the Daegu National Museum in Suseong-gu, southeastern Daegu. 

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A gilt-bronze crown from the Three Kingdoms period is found in one of the ancient tombs in Dalseong-gun, Daegu.


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Decorative long swords excavated from an ancient tomb in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, date back to the Three Kingdoms period.


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The official poster for the ‘Dalseong, Matrix of Daegu’ exhibition currently underway at the Daegu National museum in Suseong-gu, Daegu.



The second exhibition is underway in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province). The “Ruler of Bisabeol, Trace Back in the Memory” exhibit is currently open to the public at the Gimhae National Museum. 

Bisabeol is what is now Changnyeong-gun (Changnyeong County) in the northern part of the province. The town was called Bisabeol during the Gaya Confederacy (1 B.C.-A.D. 562). In Gyeseong-ri and Songhyeon-ri and across the region there remain numerous ancient tombs of the rulers of Bisabeol, monarchs that ruled over the Gaya Confederacy and during the early years of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 668). 

As excavations at the ancient tombs began in 1918 and 1919 during the Japanese colonization of Korea, quite a number of luxurious gold craftworks came to light. 

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‘The Ruler of Bisabeol, Trace Back in the Memory,’ an exhibition underway at the Gimhae National Museum, has on display a range of earthenware from Bisabeol, the ancient name for Changnyeong-gun in northern Gyeongsangnam-do.


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Jewelry and accessories dating back to the Silla Kingdom were unearthed in Changnyeong-gun in northern Gyeongsangnam-do.



The exhibition introduces ancient tombs and excavated relics from Bisabeol across five exhibit sections. In particular, a pair of gilt-bronze shoes, found in an ancient tomb in the Gyo-dong group of tombs, is being unveiled to the public for the first time. 

The first exhibit section, “Gyo-dong is Unveiled,” takes a look at the background and issues involving the excavation of the group of tombs in Gyo-dong that was carried out during colonial times. 

In the second exhibit section, there are records that look closely at the process and results of the excavations of ancient tombs in Gyo-dong. Thirdly, under the theme of, “The centerpiece of Bisabeol, Gyeseong and Gyo-dong house large ancient tombs,” the groups of tombs in both Gyeseong and Gyo-dong, where Bisabeol rulers were put to rest, are featured in a detailed manner. 

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A variety of harness accessories from the Silla Kingdom is found in Changnyeng-gun in northern Gyeongsangnam-do.


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A set of rings from the Silla Kingdom is discovered in Changnyeong-gun in northern Gyeongsangnam-do.



The fourth exhibit section, “Stories About Bisabeol’s Rulers,” talks about who Bisabeol’s rulers were and what they did, with the help of excavated artifacts from ancient tombs in Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong. Lastly, in the fifth exhibit section, “Rewrite Our history,” museum-goers will realize the value of conserving cultural assets as they navigate through the history of the ancient city and view more than 200 historical remains. 

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The official poster for the ‘Ruler of Bisabeol, Trace Back in the Memory’ exhibition underway at the Gimhae National Museum in Gimhae, Gyengsangnam-do. The exhibition continues until March 1.



“You can tell how the region embraced traditions from the Silla Kingdom in the fifth century, along with those from the Gaya Confederacy, when you look at the numerous relics, such as belts, crowns and earrings,” said curator Kim Hyuk-jung of the Gimhae National Museum. 

The exhibition continues until March 1 at the Gimhae National Museum in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do.