Busan is good

Busan Museum to Host 2025 Special Exhibition: "Gap of Gaps (甲 of 甲), Busan Armor

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The Busan Museum announced that it will hold a special themed exhibition titled "Gap of Gaps (甲 of 甲), Busan Armor" from April 8 to May 11, 2025, for a total of 34 days at the museum’s special exhibition hall.

This exhibition focuses on armor excavated during archaeological investigations in Busan, offering a multifaceted look into the types of armor used during the Joseon Dynasty, their production techniques, and Busan’s military significance during the period.

While most Joseon-era armor has been handed down through family lineages, the armor held by the Busan Museum is the only known example in Korea confirmed through archaeological excavation. Its value lies in the fact that it was discovered in situ, and alongside the armor, related artifacts and architectural remains provide a wealth of context. These findings allow visitors to vividly imagine the era, locations, and even combat scenes in which the armor was used.

Featured in the exhibition are iron-plate armor (Cheolchalgap) and helmets with visors (Cheomju) unearthed from the Dongnae Eupseong moat, the site of the Battle of Dongnae during the Imjin War, as well as studded armor (Dujeonggap) and helmets excavated from Cheonseongjin Fortress on Gadeokdo Island.

For the first time, the exhibition reveals both original armor scales from the Cheonseongjin studded armor and a full replica, reconstructed from these few recovered pieces. This recreation process is a highlight of the exhibition.

Glossary:

• ●Iron-plate armor (Cheolchalgap): Made by flattening metal into finger-sized plates and lacing them together with leather.

• ●Helmet with visor (Cheomju): A Joseon-era helmet equipped with a sunshade.

• ●Studded armor (Dujeonggap): Armor with scales attached inside a robe-like coat.

• ●Scales (Mineul): Small, scale-shaped pieces of metal or leather attached to armor.

The exhibition consists of two parts:

• 1.“Busan, Clad in Armor” – featuring armor and artifacts excavated from Dongnae Eupseong and Cheonseongjin Fortress, it reconstructs the historical context and revisits Joseon’s defensive efforts to protect Busan.

• 2.“Armor, Embodying Joseon’s Craftsmanship” – this section delves into the armor-making process, tracing how individual scales come together to form a complete suit of armor. It includes hands-on content where visitors can engage directly, allowing a deeper understanding of both the warriors of the time and the expertise of traditional armorers.

Associated events will also be held and are free for all visitors via on-site registration:

• ●A joint academic symposium co-hosted by Busan Museum and the Busan Archaeological Society, titled "Busan Armor That Protected Joseon", will be held on April 19 at 1:00 PM.

• ●A curator-led program, "A Historical Journey with the Curator", will take place on April 25 at 3:00 PM.

In addition, the museum’s popular children’s class "Weekend at the Museum – Ozobot Warriors, Defend Busan!" will be held on April 19 at 1:00 PM. This board game-based activity uses the coding robot Ozobot to teach elementary students about Joseon-era armor and Busan’s role as a coastal defense stronghold in a fun and engaging way.

The class is open to students from Grades 1 to 6 and requires pre-registration starting at 10:00 AM on April 15 through the Busan Museum website (museum.busan.go.kr/busan/index).

For further information regarding the exhibition, please contact the Exhibition Operations Team at Busan Museum (☎ 051-610-7145).

Jeong Eun-woo, Director of Busan Museum, remarked,

“This exhibition is a meaningful opportunity to introduce Joseon-era armor uniquely discovered through excavation. I hope visitors will reflect on the historical identity and value of Busan through these stories of war and defense.”