영국 소재 박물관의 한국실 현황으로 본 과제에 대한 연구-대영박물관과 빅토리아알버트박물관의 사례-

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study into the present condition of Korean galleries and exhibitions in foreign museums, especially those in the United Kingdom, focusing on the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Korea Foundation Gallery in the British Museum, which is the independent gallery for Korean art and history, opened in the year of 2000. It introduces Korea’s long history and abundant material and visual culture through artefacts of various genres such as ceramics, metal crafts, sculptures, and paintings. Also, it has gallery talks and tours and various cultural events that promote the visitors’ understanding in Korean culture and history. The Victoria and Albert Museum established the Samsung Gallery, the Korean gallery in the museum, in 1992. Various artworks that range from the fourth century to present day, including ceramics, fashion, product design and digital art, are displayed in the gallery. Along the exhibition, the gallery introduces Korean art and culture through diverse educational and design support programmes. Still, there are rooms for improvements for more comprehensive and educative exhibitions: poor collections and exhibitions in content; lack of museum experience; and provision of wrong and one-sided information. In order to make Korean exhibitions in foreign museums better, this paper suggests that the government and related organisations should closely cooperate with foreign museums to exchange artefacts and human resources, to research into Korean tangible and intangible heritages, and to exchange cultures and arts with each other. Furthermore, it emphasises the necessity of support for Korean studies in universities overseas, and the importance of the employment of experts and the usage of volunteering system for the foreign museums. Lastly, it recommends Korean people to examine the exhibitions carefully so that they can give feedbacks to the museums to correct mistakes and to improve the exhibitions. The final aim of this paper is to find ways to improve Korean galleries and exhibitions in foreign museums so that more people become interested in Korea and visit the country while the national brand power is enhanced in the international arena.