Silla Arts and Science Museum

In the Hadong craft village below Bulguksa in Gyeongju, this private museum is devoted to the history of Korean science. A cutaway model of the Seokguram grotto, a full-size replica of the Sangwonsa temple bell and a sectioned model of the Cheomseongdae observatory show how the people of Silla worked stone and bronze. Seokguram itself can only be seen from behind a glass screen, so this is the place to understand its inner structure step by step.

Silla science through models

The museum was founded on 15 October 1988 by Seok U-il to give children and young people visiting Gyeongju a sense of the roots of Korean science. It studies scientific and technical heritage from Silla to the reign of King Sejong of Joseon and rebuilds, as models, objects that survive only in part or cannot be seen inside. It is not a museum of originals but one that answers the question "how was this made?".

What to see, floor by floor

• Basement – Seokguram: a model analysing the stone chamber of Seokguram scientifically: the principles behind its dome of fitted stones, as well as the problems with current conservation methods.
• Ground floor – charts of the sky, maps of the land: Cheomseongdae and Silla astronomy, and maps of the capital, Seorabeol.
• First floor – bells, printing and Sejong's science: a full-size replica of the bronze bell of Sangwonsa on Odaesan and the casting process of temple bells, Baekje sculptural techniques, the history of early printing, scientific heritage from Sejong's reign and the geometry of traditional patterns.
• Outdoor exhibition area: there is also an outdoor display space.

Compare with the originals

Seeing the real monuments after the models makes them far easier to understand. The Seokguram grotto is a granite cave temple begun in 751 under King Gyeongdeok of Silla by Kim Dae-seong, and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Bulguksa in 1995. The bronze bell of Sangwonsa on Odaesan, cast in 725, is the oldest surviving Korean temple bell. Cheomseongdae, built under Queen Seondeok from 362 granite blocks in 27 courses, stands north of Wolseong in central Gyeongju. Since you can see Seokguram and Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju on the same day, compare model and original side by side.

Tripto tips

• Hours: 10:00–17:00, last entry 40 minutes before closing. Closed on Mondays and Thursdays; changes are announced by the museum.
• Tickets: adults KRW 5,000, students KRW 3,500. Cards are accepted and parking is free.
• Guided commentary: a free talk of about 50 minutes on Saturdays at 10:30 (subject to change). Group tours must be booked in advance.
• Time needed: 1–2 hours if you take it slowly with the commentary.
• Planning your day: the museum is about 3 km from Bulguksa. Visit after Bulguksa and Seokguram to make sense of what you have just seen, or beforehand as preparation.
• Getting there: a car or taxi is easiest, and it is a short taxi ride from the Bulguksa area. For public transport, check the route in a map app. With two closing days a week, check before you set off.