Japanese magazine with the photo of Jeon Bong-jun

A pictorial issued on May 10, 1895. The photos were taken by Murakami Tenshin before Jeon Bong-jun, an activist being interrogated by the Japanese Embassy in Korea, was transferred to the Ministry of Justice on February 27, 1895. Jeon is on a stretcher because his feet were severely injured. - Donated by Park Maeng-soo

Ericsson Telephone

An electric telephone manufactured by Ericsson, a Swedish multinational telecommunications company. Turning the right handle rotated the generator inside and transmitted a signal to the telephone exchange. This is an identical model to what was first installed and used inside the Gungnaebu (Department of the Royal Household of the Joseon Dynasty) in the 1890s.

Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) of the Korea Provisional Legislative Assembly

Registered Cultural Heritage No. 395-1
A historic artifact owned by the family of Kim Bung-jun, made by hand by Kim's wife, Roh Yeong-jae. It is thought to have been used by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Provisional Legislative Assembly.

Receipt for contribution issued by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea

A receipt for contribution issued to Lee Hee-cheol in the name of Seo Jae-pil, a member of the Korean Commission to America and Europe. It contains information on regions, provinces, names, and other information, and totals 26 dollars. The part where it says "bond" has been corrected to "contribution" or donation.

Kim Gi-won's, Roe Young-jae's and Kim Deok-mok's resident ID cards in Chongqing

Registered Cultural Heritage No. 550
An ID card issued in Chongqing, China. Kim Gi-won was another name used by Kim Bung-jun, who was Chairman of the Korean Provisional Legislative Assembly. For occupation, Kim filled in “Independence Activist.

Jungoe Daily censored by Imperial Japan

The authorities censored articles published by newspaper companies before their publication, in accordance with the Newspaper Law in 1907. The censored copy is full of red marks.

Dongyangmok wrapping paper

Dongyangmok is the product name for cotton cloth manufactured by Dongyang Yeomjik Co. The company was originally called Kim Deok-chang Yeomjik Gongso (Textile Company) and established in 1897 in Seoul. It was later reorganized and incorporated in 1919.

Ferry Boat Without an Owner

The Ferry Boat Without an Owner was a film starring Na Woon-gyu, which was praised at the time for hinting at the reality of the Korean people during the Japanese occupation. It is a tragic story about a man named Choon-sam who lives an unfortunate life that involves the railway, a product of the modern period.

Poster encouraging the use of the Japanese language

This states that Japanese must be used daily to become a great soldier. The conscription system was strongly related to the use and spread of the Japanese language, so this can be interpreted as part of Japan's plans to expand the use of Japanese in Korean society.

Badge of the Second Detachment of the Korean Independence Army

A badge of the Second Detachment of the Korean Independence Army organized in Chongqing, China, in 1940. K.I.A stands for the Korea Independence Army. The number refers to the Second Detachment.

Postcard in memory of the late Lee Han-yeol

A postcard set commemorating the late Lee Han-yeol, issued by the Lee Han Yeol Memorial Museum. - Donated by Kim Seon-mi

Campaign poster for presidential candidate

Campaign posters for the candidates running for the 13th president in 1987

Friends of Workers

The first issue of Friends of Workers, a cultural magazine for workers, published in 1987. It includes labor movement trends and discussions on settlement of the democratic labor union.

The world’s first 64MB DRAM

The world's first 64MB DRAM semiconductor memory chip developed in Korea. Primary research and a joint development project by the government and a private research institute in 1989 resulted in production of the first such memory chip in the world in 1992, by the development team of Samsung Electronics. Up to 4 million Korean characters could be stored inside a chip the size of a person's fingernail. - Samsung Electronics

Seotaji and Boys, First album

The new generation in the 1990s, who pursued freedom rather than authority and sought to think outside the box, fell in love with a new type of popular music. Starting from Seotaiji and Boys, singers and bands such as Kim Gun-mo and Roo'ra gained popularity, which gave Korean pop music its glory days, producing new albums day after day.

HODORI, Mascot of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul

SUPER JUNIOR World tour concert photobook

The world concert tour by the Korean boyband, Super Junior, and titled SUPER SHOW, is representative of the Korean Wave. Their hit song, Sorry Sorry, was top of the charts for 121 weeks in Taiwan—a testament to their popularity in Asia. This led to their performing during the closing ceremony of Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games.

Mobile phone with inscription, “You can do it”

A folding mobile phone manufactured in 1999, which became a breakthrough for export during the foreign currency crisis. The message, "You can do it" was inscribed on the substrate inside the phone as an inspiration to overcome the crisis and for success of the product.

North Korean workers’ uniform in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex

A uniform worn by North Korean workers in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and supplied by the first company to register a corporation by investing in the complex. Gaeseong Industrial District Foundation

Samsung SH-100

The first domestic-made mobile phone, nicknamed "brick" because of its thick, rectangular shape.