National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (대한민국역사박물관)
We recently had a family day out and went to this museum. I hadn’t been before but I was glad that we went. It’s a great overview of Korea’s modern history. Although I was familiar with much of this history, it was interesting to see in a chronological order and to see artefacts from historical events.
Many people get interested in Korea through Kpop and Kdramas and don’t realise Korea’s interesting but sometimes very sad, past. In order to understand Korea now, it’s important to understand what has happened to Korea.
This museum is really easy to get to and the staff were so nice. Even finding Yul’s toy that he lost even though it was closing.
We visited this museum a few years ago but wanted to show my mum while she is visited because it’s so interesting to get a glimpse into Korea’s recent past, especially while in modern Seoul.
Korea’s modern history of development is actually pretty amazing. It is one of the only countries in the world to go from a war-torn, poverty stricken country, to a developed, technologically driven, modern country in such a short amount of time. South Korea had to receive foreign aid after the Korean war, it was poorer than North Korea at one point, but is now a country that gives aid to countries in need. It’s a pretty big deal that they were able to change and develop so quickly. This is one of the reasons why looking back into recent history is so fascinating. Hugh’s childhood differs a lot to mine. My mother is visiting and came with us and we talked about how Hugh’s childhood is actually more similar to hers in the 1960’s in Australia, than mine in the 1980’s/1990’s in Australia (because Korea was behind in so many developments compared to Australia). Many of the things from the 1960’s and 1970’s were still like that, especially in the rural areas, during a lot of Hugh’s childhood, so he could reminisce while in the museum. When people are interested in South Korea now, they see the Kpop and the Kdramas and the glamour and technology, but not that long ago things were very different. While this museum focuses mostly on how people lived, there are displays about Korea’s traumatic history last century: of course Japanese occupation and the Korean war. It’s worth the trip up to Paju to see this museum. Tourist brochures explain how to get there and their website is here.
European settlement in Australia began not much more than 200 years ago so what we view as old isn’t that old for most other countries! Aboriginal history is long and interesting and very important, but Aboriginal people didn’t build big structures that lasted, so something that is considered old in Australia… isn’t that old. I love history so I’m excited when I’m in Korea and see buildings that are hundreds and hundreds of years old. You just can’t experience that in Australia. Which is why as I walked past a bridge and saw the date it was built I thought that was cool. My husband was there to remind me about Korea though. Australia can’t win in this competition.
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