Modern-day Korean culture comes to the Creative Discovery Museum
A slice of the world’s “most wired city” is coming to Chattanooga, thanks to the Creative Discovery Museum’s upcoming temporary exhibit, “Heart and Seoul: Growing Up in Korea,” which makes its regional debut this Saturday.
Museum guests are invited to ride the “Hallyu”—that’s Korean for what the West calls the “Korean Wave,” the influx of all things Korean currently sweeping the globe— as this exhibit explores the heart and soul of Korean culture. It will remain at the museum through May 15.
“Heart and Seoul” features five modern-day Korean kids who invite guests to take an intimate look into their lives, exploring their diverse interests, customs and ambitions, including their love of K-Pop (Korean pop culture) and Korean cuisine, their habit of texting to communicate, and their dreams of being accepted into a good college. That academic drive is what keeps them studying after school at hagwon, or cram school, until midnight.
Henry Schulson, executive director of the Creative Discovery Museum, says hosting the exhibit represents an opportunity for the museum to establish relationships with the Korean community. “We value diversity and view this as a wonderful way to educate our guests about what other children experience growing up in another culture,” he said.
The museum has also hired Cathy Palisoc, a native of Seoul, as a local consultant to liaise with the Korean community and provide additional insight into Korean culture.
“Heart and Seoul” was developed as part of the Freeman Foundation Asian Culture Exhibit Series, which strives to educate children and their families about various Asian cultures. The project was administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) and created by the Children’s Museum of Houston.
The exhibit has financial support from Samsung, the renowned Korean brand and global leader in technology. Samsung was instrumental in providing the exhibit its high-tech feel of modern Seoul.
Through the gift of a variety of Samsung technology, “Heart and Seoul” displays an authentic modern-day Seoul adorned with the sparkle of electronic billboards, K-Pop studio glitz, smartphones for all-over use and tablets for learning the language. Samsung’s investment in the project also includes company specialists who install and transport the technology for every museum on its eight-city, four-year tour.
Gregory Lee, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America and Samsung Telecommunications America says “Heart and Seoul” showcases Korea’s progressive and dynamic modern-day culture, a culture that sustains Korea’s rich history. “We hope that our technology integration will not only enhance the visitor’s experience but also highlight the country’s vigorous technology advances that Samsung is humbly honored to continue to lead,” said Lee.
South Korea is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and an important trade and political partner for the United States and other nations. South Korea was the United States’ sixth largest supplier of goods imports in 2013. It is also enjoying broader influence and receiving greater recognition for its contributions in the realms of arts, culture and technology.
“Heart and Seoul: Growing Up in Korea” is designed to immerse guests in learning experiences that will build their understanding of Korean culture, highlighting the differences and similarities between their lives and the lives of Korean people.