The National Palace Museum of Korea (Director General Chung Yong-jae) under the Korea Heritage Service, in partnership with the Korea Heritage Agency (President Choi Young-chang) and Incheon International Airport Corporation, will unveil the newly renovated Traditional Culture Media Wall in the arrivals hall of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport on April 1.

As the first cultural experience for visitors arriving in Korea, the Traditional Culture Media Wall is designed to vibrantly showcase the charms of Korea’s heritage and traditional culture. The newly updated media art content is divided into two parts, offering travelers the opportunity to explore Korea’s natural and royal cultural heritage. 

The first piece, titled “Old Roads, In search of Myself” offers a visual tour of historic landmarks in Seoul. The video presents a cinematic journey through various perspectives, weaving between split screens to follow a traveler’s moments through the city. It generates an exciting sense of anticipation for the trip to Korea. The video invites viewers to experience the city’s cultural and natural heritage, beginning with a walk along Namsan Mountain and the Hanyangdoseong Fortress, followed by a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace, where they can admire the grandeur of Geunjeongjeon Hall and explore the National Palace Museum of Korea.

The second video, “In Search of Shining Treasures,” is a media art piece inspired by royal relics from the National Palace Museum of Korea. It vividly reimagines royal artifacts, such as royal seals and ritual vessels of Jongmyo Shrine, through dynamic 3D rendering. The mysterious virtual effects like golden sands, ethereal mist, and splashing water enhance the physical properties of the artifacts, evoking the majesty of the Joseon Dynasty’s royal court.

This year, the area around the media wall has been further enhanced with heritage-inspired design, integrating seamlessly with the existing exhibition. Visitors can now enjoy both the media wall’s imagery and traditional ambience of the space as they walk along the moving walkway in the arrivals hall.

The area features window blinds influenced by traditional Jogakbo patchwork, which create a warm, inviting atmosphere with subtle colors in natural light. The east wing, where the sun rises, is decorated in mysterious shades of blue, while the west wing, where the sun sets, is adorned in rich reds.

The bronze dragon* benches, designed based on a bronze dragon sculpture originally placed in the pond of Gyeonghoeru at Gyeongbokgung Palace, symbolize royal wishes for the palace’s peace. Crafted from two types of solid wood, the benches depict the shape of the dragon and its scales, with the legs featuring rounded claws that add a playful touch. Total of eight 4.8-meter-long benches have been placed on the east and west wings of the arrivals hall, offering visitors a place to relax, organize their luggage, and enjoy the media art.

The bronze dragon benches and media art

The bronze dragon benches

*Bronze Dragon from the pond of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion: This bronze statue, known to have been placed in the pond of Gyeonghoeru at Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was accidentally unearthed during dredging work in 1997.It measures 146.5 cm in length and is housed in the National Palace Museum of Korea.

Visitors can access detailed information about the Traditional Culture Media Wall and displayed content by scanning the QR code* attached to the on-site information board and bronze dragon benches, offering an interactive way to learn more through a mobile leaflet. Furthermore, from April 16th to 18th promotional event will be held in the Transport Center at Incheon International Airport to celebrate the new media wall. During the event, 2,000 visitors will receive traditional cultural souvenirs, such as postcards and luggage tags. For more information, please visit the websites of the National Palace Museum of Korea (https://gogung.go.kr/) and the National Heritage Agency (https://www.kh.or.kr/). 

The National Palace Museum of Korea will continue its proactive efforts to expand opportunities for the public to experience and appreciate the richness of Korea’s national heritage.