To mark the 80th anniversary of Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul), the Myeongwon Museum will host a special exhibition titled “Echoes of a Millennium, A Century of the Future: The Encounter Between Rubbings of the King Seongdeok Bell and AI Video Technology” in Gallery 3 of the Seonggokheon Permanent Exhibition Hall from Friday, October 16, through Friday, February 26, 2027.
 
This exhibition was organized to commemorate Kookmin University’s 80th anniversary, reflecting on the past 80 years of history and preparing for the next 100 years. In particular, it focuses on the rubbing materials of the King Seongdeok Bell—a cultural heritage item in the Myeongwon Museum’s collection that has preserved its value for over 1,200 years—and was designed to reinterpret this historical legacy in a modern context by combining it with AI video technology.
 
The King Seongdeok Bell is a representative Buddhist bell from the Unified Silla period. As a cultural heritage artifact, it offers insights into the culture, art, and casting techniques of that era through its intricate patterns, sculptural beauty, and inscriptions imbued with historical significance. This special exhibition presents nine rubbing works of the King Seongdeok Bell from the Myungwon Museum’s collection alongside AI videos, highlighting the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage as well as the potential for communication with future generations.
 
The exhibition is organized into two spaces. In the first space, an AI video is screened that connects the historical and symbolic value of the King Seongdeok Bell to Kookmin University’s 80-year history. In the second space, physical rubbing specimens documenting the bell’s major components—including the dragon-shaped knob, sound hole, upper ring, bell body, spout, base, lower ring, celestial beings, and inscription—are on display. Through these, visitors can examine not only the detailed form and patterns of the King Seongdeok Great Bell but also the history and culture of the era captured in its inscription.
 
This exhibition is particularly significant for its combination of traditional rubbing techniques with modern AI video technology. While rubbings serve to preserve and transmit the form and history of cultural heritage, the AI video reinterprets this heritage through modern technology, offering visitors a fresh viewing experience. By bringing together recording methods from different eras, this exhibition provides an opportunity to reflect on the historical value of cultural heritage and to examine the museum’s role in passing it on to future generations.
 
This special exhibition was also organized as part of the various commemorative projects Kookmin University is undertaking to mark its 80th anniversary. Under the vision of “A University Setting the Standard for Higher Education” and the slogan “Make the Rule, Break the Rule,” Kookmin University is sharing its 80-year history and achievements while preparing for a new future. This exhibition further enhances the significance of the 80th anniversary by reexamining the university’s historical assets and bridging traditional culture with modern technology.
 
An official from the Myeongwon Museum stated, “This exhibition is an opportunity to highlight both the Seongdeok the Great Bell, which spans 1,200 years of history, and Kookmin University’s 80-year history,” adding, “We sought to demonstrate new possibilities for preserving and passing on cultural heritage through the convergence of traditional rubbing techniques and AI technology.”
 
Meanwhile, this special exhibition will be on view until February 26, 2027, in the wall display cases of Gallery 3 of the Seonggokheon Permanent Exhibition Hall at Kookmin University’s Myeongwon Museum.

△ Photo: Poster for Kookmin University’s 80th Anniversary Special Exhibition, “Echoes of a Millennium, A Century of the Future”