Joint special exhibition by 10 university museums in the Yeongnam region runs from July 11 to October 24

Showcasing five years of outcomes from the Cultural Heritage Administration’s “Preservation and Utilization of Unorganized Buried Cultural Heritage” project

From Gilt-Bronze Crowns to Gilt-Bronze Shoes—Reliving the Emotion of Excavation Sites

[July 15, 2025]

 After a long period of dormancy in university museum storage rooms, precious artifacts are finally being unveiled to the public. 

 On July 11, Yeungnam University (President CHOI Oe-chool) launched the special joint exhibition “After a Long Wait, Emerging from the Storage Room” in collaboration with ten university museums from the Yeongnam region. 

 Buried cultural heritage excavated before the 2000s had long remained in storage at university museums, with few opportunities to be recognized for their academic and cultural value. However, from 2020 to 2024, under the Cultural Heritage Administration’s project “Preservation and Utilization of Unorganized Buried Cultural Heritage,” university museums were able to systematically organize their collections and perform professional preservation work.This special exhibition marks the first public unveiling of major artifacts from Silla and Gaya tombs, carefully selected over the past five years by the ten participating university museums, making the event all the more significant. 

 Highlights include artifacts from the Goryeong Jisan-dong Tomb No. 45, the first Daegaya tomb ever excavated (Keimyung University Hengso Museum), and the Hwangodong Site No. 100 in Gyeongju, the burial place of a high-ranking Silla official uncovered in the heart of the city (Dongguk University WISE Campus Museum). Visitors can also view relics from the mural tombs of Sunheung in Yeongju (Daegu University Central Museum), which demonstrate cultural exchange among the Three Kingdoms. 

 Additional highlights include discoveries from the Okjeon tombs in Hapcheon—known as the “Seventh Gaya” (Gyeongsang National University Museum); the Bokcheon-dong Tombs in Busan, which illustrate the rise of Gaya culture and its incorporation into Silla (Pusan National University Museum); and the Songhak-dong Tombs in Goseong, once a maritime trade hub (Dong-A University Seokdang Museum). 

 Also on display are artifacts from the Hwangodong tombs in Gyeongju, excavated more than 60 years ago (Kyungpook National University Museum); the Gusandong tombs, representing post-Geumgwan Gaya culture (National Pukyong University Museum); and the Jungsan-ri Tombs in Ulsan, offering new insights into Silla burial customs (National Changwon University Museum). The exhibition also presents discoveries from the Imdang and Joyeong-dong tombs (Yeungnam University Museum), providing a comprehensive view of daily life during the Silla and Gaya periods.

 Beyond displaying artifacts, the exhibition sheds light on the historical narratives and aesthetic values behind each item. For example, the Imsin Seogiseok from Seokjang-dong in Gyeongju is an inscribed stone tablet reflecting the scholarly aspirations of Silla youth, offering a glimpse into educational culture. The plate armor from Dugok-ri in Gimhae represents the iron culture of Gaya and reveals the identity of ancient warriors. The pouch-shaped jar from the Yayoi-era ruins in Neukdo, Sacheon, reflects cultural exchanges between Korea and Japan. Other notable artifacts include gilt-bronze crowns, gilt-bronze shoes, tiger-patterned jars, cylindrical stands with figurines, petroglyph-style bronze daggers, and lute-shaped bronze daggers—all carefully selected to present a multidimensional view of ancient life, art, and interaction.

Director LEE Eun-jung of the Yeungnam University Museum, who oversaw the planning of the exhibition, stated, “This exhibition is not just about putting artifacts on display. It’s an opportunity to reexamine the meaning of unorganized artifacts that have been largely unknown until now.” She added, “I hope this exhibition will allow visitors to rediscover the historical and cultural significance embedded in these objects.”

 Hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration and organized by the Korean University Museum Association, this special exhibition is being held at the Yeungnam University Museum from July 11 to October 24. It is open to the public free of charge on weekdays and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For group tours, please contact the YU Museum’s curatorial team at 053-810-1707.