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Busan Museum to Host Special Thematic Exhibition Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Busan Port Opening: “The Sea Crossers”

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Busan Museum announced that, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Busan Port opening, it will hold a special thematic exhibition titled “Busan Port Opening 150 Years: The Sea Crossers” at its special exhibition hall for 55 days from March 24 to May 17.

This exhibition highlights the dynamic process through which Busan grew into an international city amid the waves of change during the modern port-opening period. In particular, moving away from conventional artifact-centered displays, the exhibition incorporates storytelling and a “newtro” sensibility to create an immersive space that can be enjoyed by visitors of all generations.

Planned to share the historical significance of the 150th anniversary of Busan Port’s opening in 1876, the exhibition covers the foundations of international exchange established through the Choryang Waegwan before the opening, as well as the development of Busan as an international city shaped by the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures after the opening.

Centered on major collection items such as “Choryang Waegwan-do,” “Dongnae Busan-do Byeong,” and genre paintings by Kim Jun-geun, the exhibition combines video and interactive elements to vividly present the transformation of Busan and the stories of the people who lived through that era.

The exhibition also unveils for the first time “Heunggu” and “Maegi,” characters created through collaboration between Busan Museum and illustrator Kwon Soon-ho, a developer associated with Kakao Friends.

The two characters, known as “The Sea Crossers,” are inspired by tiger and hawk paintings that were exported to Japan through the Choryang Waegwan in late Joseon Busan. They play the role of guides throughout the exhibition. Emerging from the artifacts displayed in the museum, Heunggu and Maegi take visitors on a time journey to explore various locations in Busan during the port-opening period through engaging storytelling.

The exhibition is composed of three sections: [1] “The Sea Opened at the Waegwan,” [2] “Busan, the Open Port Facing a New World,” and [3] “Busan Port Riding the Waves to the World,” allowing visitors to view 150 years of Busan Port history at a glance.

Section [1], “The Sea Opened at the Waegwan,” introduces Busan’s accumulated international capabilities centered on the Choryang Waegwan. Section [2], “Busan, the Open Port Facing a New World,” presents the transformation of Busan after the opening and the process through which Eastern and Western people embraced different cultures and created new ones together. Section [3], “Busan Port Riding the Waves to the World,” visualizes Busan’s modern and contemporary history as it advanced into an international city through dynamic video and timelines.

At the end of the exhibition, visitors encounter the original artifacts with Heunggu and Maegi returned to their places within the paintings after completing their time journey, leaving a lasting impression and conveying the vitality of the artifacts as the exhibition concludes.

A variety of interactive programs for visitors and exhibition commentary by curators are also available.

Within the exhibition hall, a “newtro” receipt-style photo booth tailored to the preferences of the MZ generation is installed, allowing visitors to instantly keep souvenirs of their visit, and various photo zones featuring the characters are operated.

In addition, on the last Friday of each month—March 27 and April 24 at 3 p.m.—a program titled “A Historical Walk with the Curator” will be held, where the curator who planned the exhibition provides in-depth explanations.

The exhibition is open to all free of charge, and detailed information is available on the Busan Museum website (museum.busan.go.kr/busan). Inquiries can be made to the Exhibition Operations Team at 051-610-7141.

Jeong Eun-woo, Director of Busan Museum, stated, “This exhibition is an attempt to present the historical significance of the 150th anniversary of Busan Port’s opening in an approachable way through character-based storytelling. We hope that citizens will enjoy experiencing the transformation of Busan as an international city together with the newly introduced Heunggu and Maegi at our museum.”