Everyday objects, not just borders
At the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul, 'ZERO: North Korea Along the Paths of Folk Life' invites visitors to explore everyday objects and memories from northern Korean regions rather than viewing the peninsula only through politics. The exhibition runs August 12, 2026 through February 14, 2027 in Special Exhibition Hall I of the main museum.
The museum describes 316 catalogued entries comprising 346 objects. Sections titled 'Separate Memories,' 'Facing Each Other' and 'A Shared Memory' explore common cultural roots alongside regional differences. Objects from Hwanghae, Gaeseong, Pyeongan and Hamgyeong tell stories about local environments, crafts and daily life.
Objects worth lingering over
Bongsan masks and the Bukcheong lion-dance mask speak to community performance; Haeju trays and wooden chests show practical craft; Haeju jars show the aesthetics of domestic storage. Paintings, travel writing and postcards of Mount Geumgang offer glimpses of landscapes remembered across generations. 'ZERO' asks visitors to put aside preconceived assumptions and look again.
Planning a visit
Find the exhibition at the National Folk Museum of Korea, 37 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 삼청로 37), main building, Special Exhibition Hall I. Exhibition dates, general museum opening hours and guided-talk dates are not the same. The museum separately lists Korean-language guided exhibition tours ending February 12, 2027, ahead of the exhibition's closing date. Check current hours, group booking rules and language accessibility with the museum.