On January 19, The University Museum of University of Seoul (UOS) reopened “Time in Pyongyang” due to the relaxation of the social distancing level. This exhibition depicts the scenery and daily life of Pyongyang, covering about 120 years from the end of the 19th century to recent times.

It is divided into four categories. In the first part called “Chunha Jeilgangsan (Out of this world, in English), Pyongyang,” photos, maps, and explanations combine to intuitively express the circumstances that rapidly changed in the early 1900s. The second part called “Kaeseong Byeolgok (Country song of Kaeseong)” depicts the history of Kaeseong, North Korea’s second city. There are also some literary works that contain the scenery of Kaeseong, such as Hwang Jin-yi’s poem.

The third part called “UOS’s Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Efforts” contains the images of inter-Korean exchanges that professors at UOS have attempted in their respective fields. It contains records of visits to Pyongyang and Kaesong and items actually used by North Koreans. One side of the wall made an interesting attempt to compare South Koreans and North Koreans, as shown below.

The fourth part called “Spectacle, Pyongyang,” depicts Pyongyang, which was severely damaged by the Korean War and transformed into an ideal socialist city. The exhibition shows Pyongyang, which developed with various architectural styles and values. The photos of children in Pyongyang are so similar that look like they were taken somewhere in South Korea. It is time to think about how Korea ended up here and whether Koreans are missing something precious.

The exhibition is convenient to access because it is spacious. There is also a small space for watching videos in the middle section. Foreigners could particularly be interested in this topic. However, unfortunately, there are no English translations/subtitles provided at all. Visitors can get a photo postcard set (10p) after completing the exhibition and answer the satisfaction-related survey.

The exhibition will be open to visitors till October 15 this year. The entries are free. The opening hours are 10:00 to 17:00 on weekdays. The exhibition remains closed on weekends. Visitors are able to witness Pyongyang and North Korea, which UOS has prepared ambitiously.