How Korea's national museum turned ancient artifacts into costume-play sensation
For one day, Korea’s most revered artifacts are no longer kept behind museum glass. Instead, they stride down runways, pose for selfies and perform choreography in front of crowds — as visitors dressed as golden Buddhist sculptures, smiling 57 B.C.-935 A.D. Silla roof tiles, Bronze Age bells and even a life-size map of the Korean Peninsula. If Halloween is the annual occasion when people borrow…
Every September, Korea's National Museum of Korea transforms ancient artifacts into a costume-play sensation, captivating visitors of all ages. The event, called "Dress Like a Museum," allows participants to embody the country's most cherished cultural treasures, dressing up as golden Buddhist sculptures, Silla roof tiles, Bronze Age bells, and even a life-size map of the Korean Peninsula.
This year, the contest saw a record-breaking 275 teams and 643 participants, more than triple the number of entries from the previous year. The surge in interest demonstrates the growing popularity of heritage fandom in Korea, as people seek to bring the past to life through their own storytelling and creativity.
The museum's "Dress Like a Museum" program began two years ago as a simple participation initiative, but it has since evolved into a fast-growing event that celebrates Korea's rich cultural heritage. Contestants are not only asked to imitate the appearance of these artifacts but also to breathe life into them through their own narratives, echoing the contest's inspiring slogan: "It is time to awaken the artifact sleeping inside you."
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
