Introduction

• • The Donated Collection I section is an introductory space for the Donated Collection Gallery, designed for visitors to better understand the concept and significance of donations. Newly opened under the theme of “A Space for Sharing Generosity,” the Donated Collection I space consists of an area for relaxation to rest and enjoy the exhibited objects and an archive of materials and information related to donation, along with media contents on display.
    
    
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  • Donation, Sharing Memories (10:25)
    
    
    

  
  

  Donation

  An act of transferring the ownership of a cultural artifact collected and owned  by the donor to the museum unconditionally

  
  

  The unique memories within the cultural artefacts are passed on to the museum through the hands of collectors, and the memories of the journey is shared with us. 

  
  

  Part 1. Memory of Collector

  
  

  Yoo Changjong

  
  

  When I was working at the Chungju District Office, I found a fragment of a lotus design roof-end tile while conducting a field investigation around the seven-story stone pagoda in Tappyeong-ri. Seeing the roof-end tile, I asked myself, 'How can a single roof tile have all the characteristics of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla roof-end tiles?' It stimulated my curiosity as a young prosecutor, and so I began my own research like an investigation on the roof tiles that eventually made me fall in love with it. I made the right decision to donate it to the National Museum of Korea instead of enjoying it myself. I thought of how rewarding it would be if more people could see it and become enlightened like I did.

  
  

  Yun Inkoo

  
  

  While hosting a program TV Show on old artifacts several years ago, I met some people who wanted to donate artifacts that they cherished as treasures in their homes. Knowing how valuable those artifacts are, as a host I said, "This culture of donation is very precious, encouraging others to donate so that people can share it together, instead of keeping it for themselves.“ I felt ashamed as I asked others to donate when I did not. Meanwhile, there was a portrait of my ancestor eleven generations before me, that always stood at a corner of my house, along with a painting of scholars’ gathering. I thought about it and came to conclusion that 'There is no other place for it than the National Museum of Korea,' and so I donated them. I am more proud that I donated them.

  
  

  Mark Tetto

  YFM (Young Friends of the Museum) 

  
  

  A Japanese collector had an item called Bulgam (portable shrine) from the Goryeo Dynasty. At YFM, we all raised money to bring it to Korea, and then we donated it to the museum. It was probably the first time I had such experience. I was very moved because there were so many positive responses.

  
  

  Kim Chonghak

  
  

  I bought artifacts whenever I had money. I collected them one by one, and eventually it added up to around 300 artifacts. One day, Jeong Yangmo, the Chief Curator of the National Museum of Korea, brought two trucks. I said, "Take whatever you want," and so he asked if he could take everything. My woodenware went to where it belongs, and now foreigners can see that Korea has such wonderful woodenware and we can also feel proud, seeing those wonders.

  
  

  Song Cheol

  Song Sungmoon

  
  

  
  

  "Throughout my whole life it was not easy to collect them, , but they are cultural heritages that must be returned to the country." Song Sungmoon

  
  

  "These are not ours." From the beginning, he said that these would be donated.

  A few days before he actually donated them, without a glimpse of a joke he asked, "Can I donate them?" He asked every family member and not just me. We all said, "Sure. Of course. It's not just anywhere – it is the National Museum of Korea. It would be great if many people could see them." No one was against it. It felt good and I was proud.

  
  

  Park Byoungrae

  Park Nowon

  
  

  He was tenacious. One day, when he went to a cold noodle restaurant, he found a nice brush container that were filled with chopsticks. So, he went there every day. The restaurant must have thought he was a strange man, probably thinking 'It's strange that this customer is keeping an eye on that chopstick container.' He said he bought it somehow. He said in a happy voice that “I could only collect small things because I earn a small salary, but others like my collection so much.”

  
  

  
  

  "During the 50 years where I thought of my work in the medical field as my calling, I believe my life would look grimmer if I had not developed a hobby of collecting antiques."

  Park Byoung-rae, Stories behind Ceramics Collected (JoongAng Ilbo, 1974)

  
  

  When donating artifacts to the museum, he packed them up few days before he died and moved them all to the museum. That evening he said, "It feels like handing over my daughter to a good family as a bride.“ He passed away few days later.

  
  

  Part 2. Memory of the Museum

  
  

  Yi Kunmoo

  
  

  In the sense of collectively creating a museum as a society, and sharing culture, knowledge and information in honor of the donors and their love for cultural heritages, the Donated Collection Gallery was created. Donation is giving something of you own to others. It is an honorable act. It is a transition from I to us, from an individual to a society. It carries a noble meaning that the value of cultural heritage should be shared with everyone.

  
  

  Lee Kwangpyo

  
  

  It must be shared with us and passed onto the next generation. Gathered together, it goes beyond an individual's impression and memory. Rather it continues as a recollection of our society, era, and nation. What I would like to say is that donation explicitly tells the purpose of existance of a museum or a collection. 

  
  

  The most important aspect of a museum in my perspective is explaining how big a role sharing, caring, and a donation can play in society in detail and promoting them through museum education.

  
  

  That said, when the museum displays or utilizes the donated works, I think it is necessary to fully emphasize the story of the collectors, the object’s provenance that is the process of how a collection is created, the emotions within the stories and parts that we were unaware of. Compared to other collections. 

  
  

  Part 3. Our Memories

  
  

  Kim Hojun

  
  

  Sohn Changkun, who donated Sehando (Winterscape) to the National Museum of Korea in 2020, had donated hundreds of cultural heritages up until then. Sehando, he held onto to it until the very end. It is a noble act to willingly donate such cultural artifacts which are priceless in value.

  
  

  Shin Donghun

  Iuchi Isao

  
  

  The most memorable cultural heritage to me is Roof-end Tile with Lotus Design.

  I know that the person who donated it was Iuchi Isao who is Japanese, 

  and I thought to myself outside his country, thinking, 'who could have done it easily?' while even Koreans can not easily do so.

  
  

  Kim Woochan

  
  

  Donation is like a Milky Way. Stars come together and form a beautiful Milky Way. Likewise, donations from individual donors are brought together to create this beautiful Donated Collection section, like the Milky Way.

  
  

  Lee Ju Hwan

  
  

  I think we could call it a community. I thought so because the donated works are gathered around even if the donors do not meet personally, and through such gathering…

  
  

  Kim Yerim 

  
  

  I think the greatest value that comes from donation is sharing what is mine to others for us, not just for me. 

  
  

  Kim Jinwoo

  
  

  Through donation, people get to see the donated artifacts and remember the names of donors. So I think that leaving an impression is the most meaningful aspect of donation.

  
  

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  Donation to a cultural institution like this museum has values incomparable to anything else.

  It is an act of benevolence. Donation is the love for others.

  That's how I would like to describe it.

  
  
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