South Koreans turn museum artifacts into cosplay (video)

People dressed as museum artifacts have gone viral in South Korea.In September, thousands gathered in Seoul to see the final showdown of the “Dress Like a Museum Exhibit” cosplay contest. The annual festival, launched in 2024 by the National Museum of Korea, has become so popular that it included four regional contests this year. Some 300 teams, from college students to government workers, portrayed temple bells, royal seals, tomb guardians, and other national artifacts – bringing Korea’s cultural history to life.The winner falls in the category of adorable. Nursing student Jeon Eun-seul dressed as a tiny porcelain container shaped like a leaping carp fish. When she first saw the object in the National Museum’s online database, she was instantly taken by its “goofy charm,” she tells the Monitor. Lee Dae-yang, another honoree, portrayed the Pensive Bodhisattva, a well-known bronze statue of a Buddhist figure who guides others toward enlightenment.The festival, Mr. Lee says, makes him feel proud, as it is a reminder that “Korea has such an amazing cultural heritage.” Deepen your worldviewwith Monitor Highlights.Politics with respectGet political stories with respectful analysis.There‘s a world of new ideas in everyBooks newsletter.There‘s more to life, enrich yours withCulture & Learning weekly.Follow humanity‘s discoveries withScience & Nature stories in your inbox.Gain a spiritual perspectivefrom the stories in your inbox.Want to understand the deeper impact of critical events? Learn the Monitor‘s insight.Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads. ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LoginReal news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908 to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. We aim to “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions. Join us in this mission by subscribing.