The National Museum of Korea is expanding its popular costume-play event into a nationwide competition involving 13 museums [2].
This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between traditional history and younger generations by leveraging a trend that has already gained significant traction online. By turning museum artifacts into interactive costumes, the institution aims to increase engagement with regional heritage sites and make cultural education more accessible.
The competition will recruit participants through Aug. 31 [1]. Following the application period, regional preliminaries will be held in September [3] across various locations, including Chuncheon, Gongju, Daegu, and Jeonju [2]. These events are designed to highlight the unique cultural assets of each specific region, allowing participants to embody the history of the local area.
The contest will culminate in a final round held at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul in late September [2]. The event encourages a creative approach to history, where participants transform themselves into living versions of museum pieces.
Director Yu Hong-jun said the event is intended to be a space where people can enjoy the charm of cultural heritage from various regions [1].
“Thirteen museums will participate in a competition encouraging the public to dress as cultural artifacts.”
The expansion of the 'costume-play' event reflects a broader shift in museum curation toward 'gamification' and experiential learning. By moving the competition from a single venue in Seoul to 13 regional museums, the National Museum of Korea is attempting to decentralize cultural interest and drive tourism to provincial heritage sites through social media-driven trends.
