Daily Busan
At BMCHM, vaults that once housed gold now house art
Leveraging its distinctive legacy as a former bank, the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum is hosting the exhibition “Vaults, Connected 2025-2026” until March 2. The exhibition offers a moving experience in which visitors can appreciate contemporary works themed on the site's history as the Bank of Korea's Busan branch. It features four themed vault spaces, each showcasing a unique charm through an artistic bridge between the past and the present.
Once a dedicated storage for 10,000-won bills, Vault No. 1 now spotlights Busan’s local youth art scene. This space features contemporary works by Jae-gyun Lee and Won-gyo Choi, the two winners of the inaugural “Emerging Artists Art Show, BUSAN?CONNECTED.” Launched in 2024, this program gives talented local artists exhibition opportunities to showcase their work.
In Vault No. 2, which once housed gold bullion, visitors can explore a photographic archive that vividly captures the building's early years. Inspired by the vault’s original purpose, the space also showcases contemporary artworks centered on gold, evoking new contemplation through an artistic reinterpretation of its value.
Vault No. 3 sheds light on fragments of old memories. Formerly a storage room for damaged bills and banknotes destined for disposal, it has been transformed into an intersection where eras meet. Alongside nostalgic signs from the bank’s heyday, debris collected during the museum’s reconstruction has been repurposed through creative upcycling.
Finally, Vault No. 4 brings to life the history of the Bank of Korea and its underground vault system through film. Retaining a form closest to its original state, this place invites visitors to follow the passage of time, from a prominent bank to the museum it is today.
For more details about the exhibition, please visit the official website linked below.
※ Vaults, Connected 2025-2026, until March 2
○ Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum: 112 Daecheong-ro, Jung-gu
○ Naver Map: Click
○ Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed on Mondays)
○ Admission: Free
○ Website: Click
<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>
distinctive: 독특한 legacy: 유산 exhibition: 전시 vault: 금고 archive: 기록 보관소 fragment: 조각 prominent: 유명한
Editor: Song Soomi
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