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| Bank of Korea Museum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bank of Korea Museum |
| Native name | 한국은행 화폐박물관 |
| Native name lang | ko |
| Established | 1997 |
| Location | Seoul, South Korea |
| Type | Economic history museum |
Bank of Korea Museum The Bank of Korea Museum is a numismatic and monetary history museum located in Seoul, South Korea, operated by the Bank of Korea. The museum presents the history of Korean Empire, Joseon dynasty, Republic of Korea, and regional trade through displays of currency, coinage, banknotes, and financial artifacts, while connecting to international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Bank for International Settlements. It functions as a research and public education center engaging with museums like the British Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and Louvre on exhibitions and conservation.
The museum opened in 1997 after consolidation of collections held by the Bank of Korea since its founding in 1950. Its antecedents include earlier currency repositories maintained during the Korean Empire reforms under Gojong of Korea and modernization initiatives influenced by observers of Meiji Restoration monetary systems. Postwar economic development during the Miracle on the Han River and policy shifts in the 1960s under leaders such as Park Chung-hee increased the Bank's archival role, leading to systematic numismatic acquisitions paralleling collections at the Royal Mint Museum, U.S. Mint, and Deutsche Bundesbank archives. The museum's foundation coincided with South Korea's accession to institutions like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and intensified cooperation with central banks including the Federal Reserve System, European Central Bank, and Bank of Japan on best practices for currency preservation.
The permanent collection features ancient coinage, medieval currency, and modern banknotes illustrating monetary policy episodes such as the Asian Financial Crisis and Korean War era issuance. Highlights include Joseon dynasty sangpyeong tongsan coins, Goryeo mun, replica currency used during Japanese rule of Korea, and early yen and won transitional notes. Exhibits compare fiat money and commodity money with examples from the Tang dynasty, Song dynasty, and Ming dynasty to contextualize Korean currency within East Asian trade networks involving the Silk Road, Maritime Silk Road, and ports like Incheon and Busan. The museum displays anti-counterfeiting technology histories, linking innovations to institutions such as Giesecke+Devrient, De La Rue, Thomas de la Rue, and the Banknote printers of France and Germany. Rotating special exhibitions have partnered with the Asian Civilisations Museum, National Museum of Korea, Tokyo National Museum, and Metropolitan Museum of Art to showcase cross-border numismatic themes, central banking history, and design evolution influenced by artists such as Kim Hwan-kyu and designers associated with national iconography.
Housed near the Bank of Korea headquarters, the museum's building integrates modern exhibition space, conservation laboratories, and archival vaults comparable to facilities at the Vatican Museums and Hermitage Museum. Architectural design reflects influences from contemporary projects like the Seoul Museum of Art and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, with climate-controlled galleries, a reference library, and a secure show vault modeled on standards from the United Nations and the International Organization for Standardization. The conservation lab employs techniques used by the Getty Conservation Institute and the International Council of Museums, and the museum's storage adheres to practices recommended by the International Monetary Fund and the Bank for International Settlements for safeguarding national financial artifacts.
The museum operates educational programs for students and professionals, offering workshops on numismatics, currency design, and anti-counterfeiting that align with curricula from institutions such as Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University, and vocational training at the Korea National University of Arts for design modules. Public lectures have featured scholars connected to the Korea Development Institute, Sejong Institute, and visiting curators from the British Museum and Smithsonian Institution. Outreach initiatives include traveling exhibits to regional museums in Gyeonggi Province, Jeju, and collaborations with cultural agencies like the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to integrate numismatic material into broader heritage programs.
The museum is administered by the Bank of Korea under institutional oversight laws comparable to central bank governance frameworks seen in the Bank of England and Federal Reserve Act. Its governance involves curatorial staff, conservation scientists, and research fellows who liaise with academic partners at KDI School of Public Policy and Management and international networks such as the International Numismatic Council. Operational policies cover acquisitions, deaccessioning, and loan agreements negotiated with institutions like the British Museum, Rijksmuseum, and Asian Art Museum of San Francisco under memoranda of understanding compliant with global museum standards set by the International Council of Museums.
The museum is located in central Seoul with access via Seoul Subway lines and is near landmarks such as Gwanghwamun Plaza, Deoksugung, and the Cheonggyecheon. Hours, admission fees, guided tours, and accessibility services follow practices similar to major institutions like the National Museum of Korea and the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. Visitors can view permanent galleries, attend temporary exhibitions, and access the reference library by appointment; special event scheduling often coincides with national observances such as Hangul Day and Independence Movement Day.
Category:Museums in Seoul Category:Numismatic museums Category:Bank museums