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Figure 1. A photograph of a common conservation process
Conservation science refers to the study of the conservation and restoration of cultural properties. Over time, cultural materials suffer environmental and natural damage (physical, chemical, and biological), as well as damage caused by air pollution and people. To breathe new life into damaged cultural materials and restore them to their original forms, it is necessary to find the right balance between the traditional techniques of the past and the advanced methods of today. Conservation science is dedicated to the research, survey, and conservation (environmental management and restoration) of cultural heritages. The domain of conservation science expands beyond restoration (repair and reconstruction) of tangible cultural heritages such as metal, clay/ceramic, wood, ancient architecture, stone cultural properties, paintings, papers, and textiles. It also covers the study of the technological history of cultural heritages, as well as preventive conservation, including environmental management.
The National Museum of Korea is well known for its expertise in conservation science. The museum’s activities in this area include inviting researchers from abroad to train staff, and undertaking conservation projects for cultural properties excavated outside of South Korea. The museum also operates overseas training and survey programs aimed at strengthening academic exchanges with overseas museums.
a.ExhibitionsScientific Poster Exhibition
- Conservation and treatment of the cultural heritage of mankind
November 1992
- Management
Collaboration among the Berlin Museum of Indian Art in Germany, and the National Museum of Korea
- Place
Central Hall, National Museum of Korea
b.WorkshopsConservation Technology Workshop
1978
- Topic
Louise Bacon’s Conservation Science for Bronze Artifacts
- Supervised by
National Museum of Korea
- Sponsored by
British Council Korea
1992
- Topic
Conservation of Central Asian Fresco Paintings
- Supervised by
Collaboration among the Berlin Museum of Indian Art in Germany, and the National Museum of Korea
- Participants
40 universities and experts (South Korea and Germany)
c.Visits by overseas conservation scientists
- 1989
Mr. Sawada from the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
- 1996
Mr. Gong Wi Lee (Liao Ying Museum), for research collaboration on wooden artifacts
d.Overseas training records of curators (summary)
| Year | Name | Place | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Sang Su Lee | National Palace Museum, Taiwan | Clay/ceramic objects |
| 1975–1976 | Oh Hee Lee | Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Japan | Metal, bronze objects |
| 1979–1980 | Sang Su Lee | Hamburg Museum of Anthropology, Germany Victoria and Albert Museum, UK |
Fresco painting, metal, glass, stone, clay/ceramic |
| 1990 | Byeong Chan Ahn | Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Japan | Material experiments and researches on conservation technologies for Korean and Japanese objects |
| 1991 | Byeong Chan Ahn | Hamburg Conservation Treatment Research Institute, Germany | Technological training on conservation science for Central Asian fresco paintings |
| 1992 | Sang Su Lee | Germany | Participated in an ADR Meeting for the International Conservation Convention |
| 1993 | Hei Sun Yu | Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Japan | Joint research for the analysis of ancient objects in Korean and Japan |
| 1994 | Hei Sun Yu | Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan | Training on fatty acid analysis technique |
| 1995 | Hei Sun Yu | Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Japan Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan | Training on fatty acid analysis technique |
| 2003 | Hyeok Nam Gwon, Hak Su Park |
Romano-Germanic Museum, Germany | Collected technological materials on conservation science |
| Su Cheol Kim | France (ARC-Nucléart) | Training on conservation of waterlogged wood | |
| 2006 | Hyeon Seong Hwang | France (Quai Branly Museum, Paris Conservation Research Institute, Louvre Museum, Guimet, Limoges Museum of Porcelain) |
Training on the conservation and restoration of European ceramics Collected technological materials on conservation treatment |
| Year | 1975 |
|---|---|
| Name | Sang Su Lee |
| Place | National Palace Museum, Taiwan |
| Area | Clay/ceramic objects |
| Year | 1975–1976 |
| Name | Oh Hee Lee |
| Place | Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Japan |
| Area | Metal, bronze objects |
| Year | 1979–1980 |
| Name | Sang Su Lee |
| Place | Hamburg Museum of Anthropology, Germany Victoria and Albert Museum, UK |
| Area | Fresco painting, metal, glass, stone, clay/ceramic |
| Year | 1990 |
| Name | Byeong Chan Ahn |
| Place | Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Japan |
| Area | Material experiments and researches on conservation technologies for Korean and Japanese objects |
| Year | 1991 |
| Name | Byeong Chan Ahn |
| Place | Hamburg Conservation Treatment Research Institute, Germany |
| Area | Technological training on conservation science for Central Asian fresco paintings |
| Year | 1992 |
| Name | Sang Su Lee |
| Place | Germany |
| Area | Participated in an ADR Meeting for the International Conservation Convention |
| Year | 1993 |
| Name | Hei Sun Yu |
| Place | Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Japan |
| Area | Joint research for the analysis of ancient objects in Korean and Japan |
| Year | 1994 |
| Name | Hei Sun Yu |
| Place | Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan |
| Area | Training on fatty acid analysis technique |
| Year | 1995 |
| Name | Hei Sun Yu |
| Place | Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Japan Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan |
| Area | Training on fatty acid analysis technique |
| Year | 2003 |
| Name | Hyeok Nam Gwon, Hak Su Park |
| Place | Romano-Germanic Museum, Germany |
| Area | Collected technological materials on conservation science |
| Year | 2003 |
| Name | Su Cheol Kim |
| Place | France (ARC-Nucléart) |
| Area | Training on conservation of waterlogged wood |
| Year | 2006 |
| Name | Hyeon Seong Hwang |
| Place | France (Quai Branly Museum, Paris Conservation Research Institute, Louvre Museum, Guimet, Limoges Museum of Porcelain) |
| Area | Training on the conservation and restoration of European ceramics Collected technological materials on conservation treatment |