National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

History gallery

The permanent history gallery presents a panorama of modern Korean history. Touchscreen kiosks provide access to documents, photographs, audio recordings and recorded oral accounts held by the museum.

Part 1: Aspirations for freedom, equality and independence

Part 1 (1894–1945) covers efforts and setbacks in establishing a modern state, resistance to Japanese rule, and lives changed by new culture and education.

Flag of the Provisional Legislative Assembly

This flag was kept by Kim Bung-jun's family and sewn by his wife, Noh Yeong-jae. It is thought to have been used by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the Provisional Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Korea; it is Registered Cultural Heritage No. 395-1.

Part 2 and the GoldStar VD-191 television

Part 2, on peace, democracy and prosperity (1945–1987), covers the establishment of a government after liberation, the Korean War, and people working for a better living and a democratic society. The GoldStar VD-191, released in 1966, was the first domestically produced black-and-white television.

Part 3 and 64-megabit DRAM

Part 3, on the individual, the Republic of Korea and the world (1987–present), covers democratisation and globalisation after the June Democratic Struggle, inter-Korean relations after the Cold War, and the networked society. The 64-megabit DRAM is a semiconductor memory chip that the Republic of Korea developed first in the world: joint government and private-laboratory research began in 1989, Samsung Electronics formed its own development team the following year, and development succeeded in 1992.