A slice of the world’s “most wired city” is coming straight to Chattanooga, thanks to Creative Discovery Museum’s upcoming temporary exhibit, Heart and Seoul: Growing Up in Korea.
From Jan. 16 to May 15, guests will ride the “Hallyu” (the Korean Wave) with the regional debut of this new exhibit that explores the heart and soul of Korean culture.
“We are thrilled to host this wonderful exhibit and to have the incredible opportunity to establish relationships with the Korean community,” said Henry Schulson, executive director at Creative Discovery Museum. “We value diversity and view this as a wonderful way to educate our guests about what other children experience growing up in another culture.”
The exhibit was developed as part of the Freeman Foundation Asian Culture Exhibit Series in an effort to educate children and their families about various Asian cultures. The project was administered by the Association of Children’s Museums and created by the Children’s Museum of Houston.
In Heart and Seoul: Growing Up in Korea, five modern-day Korean kids will open their hearts and invite guests to take an intimate look into their lives through their diverse interests, customs and ambitions, including their love of K-Pop and Korean cuisine, their habit of texting to communicate, and even their dreams of being accepted into a good college; their drive is what keeps them studying after school at "hagwon" (or cram school) until midnight.
Creative Discovery Museum has hired Cathy Palisoc, a native of Seoul, as a local consultant to help establish a relationship with the Korean community and provide additional insight to the Korean culture.
To accurately represent a modern-day Korea, the exhibit gained the support of Korea’s most renowned brand and global leader in technology. Samsung helped to ensure the exhibit represents the "inescapable, high-tech feel" of modern Seoul. Through the gift of a variety of Samsung technology, the exhibit 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 includes their specialists installing and transporting the technology for every Museum on the eight-city, four-year tour.
“The Heart and Seoul: Growing Up in Korea exhibit is truly an admirable showcase of Korea’s progressive and dynamic modern-day culture – a culture that also uniquely sustains its rich history,” said Gregory Lee, president and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America and Samsung Telecommunications America. “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.”
South Korea is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and a 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 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 will immerse guests in learning experiences which build understanding of Korean culture to see the differences and similarities between American life and the lives of Korean people.
The exhibit is broken down into the following areas:
KOREA PLAZA: “Hang out” with Korean kids and “text” them questions about what life is like in Seoul. Visit historical and famous sites on an interactive multi-user touch table. Then, launch a kite to “fly away the bad luck.”
KOREA K-POP STARS STUDIO: K-Pop has a huge influence on pop culture in Korea and around the world. Take the stage of the K-Pop TV studio and watch yourself “perform” with K-Pop stars in front of a 75” TV screen.
ANIMATION STUDIO: Did you know “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” and “Avatar” were created in Korean animation studios? Check out a stop-motion animation station and draw an animated story.
TAEKWONDO STUDIO: Kick, punch and block as you match your moves to Korean children who are experts in this martial art based on 2000-year-old ancient techniques.
RESTAURANT: From Kimchi to Korean BBQ, dine in at this authentic Korean restaurant or take on the role of restaurant owner and watch your business boom.
APARTMENT: Experience preparations, games and customs for Seollal (Lunar New Year). Try on a hanbok and learn to do the traditional bow, put on a traditional dress, “taste” New Years’ foods such as tteokguk (rice cake soup), or play yut nori by throwing sticks and moving tokens around a game board.
CLASSROOM: Stories, music and calligraphy…it all happens in school. Learn how to speak and write Hangul. Listen to folktales and play the janggu and buk, traditional drums.
HANOK GUEST HOUSE: The Jesa Table is a place where Koreans bow in respect to honor their ancestors. Draw an ancestor you would like to honor and bow to experience this tradition. Also, check out the rollup floor mat and view a folk tale.