Late Autumn Museum Trips
(Published October 31, 2012)

Gyeonggi Tourism Organization’s Recommendations on Unique Must-See Museums
 
These days, museums are changing considerably. To satisfy children’s curiosity, it is no longer sufficient to simply have them view displays, wear uniforms, and pose for single photographs. They need to be able to make something with their own hands and develop their imaginations. Dreams are made as they participate and cooperate with each other and take on new roles. New and special experiences help children learn to see the world with new eyes. Let’s take a look at the museums of Gyeonggi Province where many unique encounters and experiences await.

 
■ All about Children’s Dreams – Korea Job World

◇ Experiencing Diverse Jobs and Finding One’s Dream Job ⓒ G-News Plus, provided by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization
 
Upon the producer’s cue, the smartly dressed newsreaders begin the news with a greeting. The two announcers, who are taking turns presenting the news, both have serious expressions. With news of the recent fall in temperature, the scene shifts to the weather team’s camera. The weathercaster’s eyes gleam as he lists the temperatures and weather forecasts for each region.
 
This is the scene at the Dream Broadcasting Company of the Children’s Experience Center at Korea Job World.
Here, children can play the roles of producer, camera operator, announcer and weathercaster with their friends and experience producing the news themselves. Following consultation with workplace experts and studies by child researchers, an advanced, interesting and beneficial program was developed to allow kids to experience up to forty-four different occupations including those of firefighter, police officer, chef and researcher, with a view to helping them discover their own interests and develop their dreams. By using the wages received from their job activities for savings or to buy things, they can also learn the basics of economics. To satisfy young people’s curiosity about their future, we operate the Job Experience Center, the Job World Center, and the Career Path Center. This well-known venue attracts an average of 2,500 visitors a day to participate in its job experience activities.

☞ Inquiries: 4-6 Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province / www.koreajobworld.or.kr / 1644-1333 / Hours of Operation: Weekdays 9:00-19:00, Weekends 9:00-18:30
 

■ Fascinating Digital Deep Sea Exploration – Pangyo iQUARIUM◇ Enter the Moving Capsule to Begin Your Journey Beneath the Sea. ⓒ G-News Plus, provided by the Gyeonggi Tourist Organization
 
Pangyo iQUARIUM is a new concept in digital aquariums that opened last July. As well as being a digital aquarium, it’s also a very different kind of museum which provides visitors with even more fun and virtual excitement than seeing real fish species.

Through 9700-inch digital panels, groups of around 20 to 30 people can move through the entertainment space, exploring over 80 different species of sea life from ancient sea creatures to tropical visions, under the guidance of one of our staff.
 
Upon entry, you will receive an aquakit in the shape of a cell phone. If you enter your name into this two-way communication device, it will automatically record your progress through the circuit and enable access to such tools as fish-catching games, which allow you to closely examine the fish you have acquired and hear detailed explanations about them.
 
After entering the moving capsule, which offers a 360° view of the ocean, your exploration of the ocean depths will begin. In the major experience space, there are two areas for games: the vibrant ocean and the mysterious ocean. The widescreen view of the wide ocean teeming with sea life is the most popular with kids. At the ocean bar, you can have your picture taken with the fish you’ve caught and make your own digital fishbowl. There are eight different experience areas (including the 4D cinema with stereoscopic videos). The entire experience, including games and explanations, takes around one hour to complete.
 
☞ Inquireis: 682 Sampyeong-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province / First Basement Floor, Uspace Mall, Pangyo Techno Valley / www.iquarium.co.kr / 031-628-4880
 

■ The Museum of Prodding and Poking – Gyeonggi Children’s Museum
 ◇ A Museum that Develops Children’s Dreams and Curiosity with the Keywords of Communication and Participation ⓒ G-News Plus, provided by the Gyeonggi Tourist Organization
 
The Gyeonggi Province Children’s Museum is the first museum in the country to be comprised of independent buildings filled with experiential exhibits made for the purpose of developing children’s dreams, imagination and curiosity in line with the keywords of ‘communication’ and ‘participation’. The museum was conceived with the idea of helping young children from the ages of 3 to 12 enjoy the museum and piquing their interest in a wide variety of subjects.

The Nature’s Playground on the 1^st floor is a space for sensory play suitable for the development of kids under the age of 4. The Healthy Playground is a space where kids can learn about the importance of health and nutrition in developing a strong and healthy body. The 2^nd floor is filled with excellent experiential exhibits where kids can personally experience such things as the structure and functions of the human body, the natural environment of the Han River, and the building construction process.
 
The “These are My Friends” corner on the 3^rd floor presents a fascinating way for children to understand multicultural families. Kids can also try on a variety of costumes and participate in various performances, and express themselves by making things out of recycled materials while learning about the importance of protecting the environment.
 
☞ Information and Contact: 85 Sanggal-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province / www.gcmuseum.or.kr/ 031-270-8600 / Open from 10am to 8pm
 

■ Time Machine Bound for Prehistoric Times – Jeongok Prehistoric Museum◇ Take a Trip in a Time Machine to a Place Where You Can Glimpse the Mysteries of Ancient Times and the Relics of Prehistoric Man. ⓒ G-News Plus, provided by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization
 
The unique appearance of the Jeongok Prehistoric Museum, which opened its doors in spring of 2011, brings to mind a time machine that can take you on a journey into the past. Even now, its exterior appearance gives the impression you’re about to head straight back to the Paleolithic Era, luring many visitors inside.
 
The Jeongok Prehistoric Museum, as a place that lets you see glimpses of mysterious ancient times and the relics of prehistoric people, brings scenes of human existence anywhere from 10,000 to 7,000,000  years ago back to life. The outdoor experience area – where you can directly take part in the making and excavating of huts, earthenware and stone tools – is particularly popular with kids. The ‘People of the Ice Age’ exhibition in the temporary exhibition room, which tells the story of the people of the Ice Age, always attracts the attention of visiting children.
 
If you follow the road behind the museum, you will find the Prehistoric Site where you can see a variety of models and feel as if you’re standing in the middle of Prehistoric times. The living emotion of this journey through time to the Prehistoric Age will create unforgettable special memories for every child who visits the site.
 
☞ Information and Contact: Pyeonghwa-ro 443beon-gil, 176-1, Jeongok-ri, Jeongok-eup, Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province / www.jgpm.or.kr / 031-830-5600
 

■ Let’s Herd Pigs! – The Pig Museum◇ The Country’s First Pig-Themed Museum ⓒ G-News Plus, provided by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization
 
In November of last year a highly unusual museum, the Pig Museum, opened in Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province. As the nation’s first pig-themed museum, the exhibition room displays around 5000 pig-themed exhibits including models, pottery and artwork.
 
Furthermore, this unique museum offers an experience program featuring a pig performance area, a pig classroom, and even sausage making, providing visitors with fascinating multisensory enjoyment! In addition, the 4600m² healing garden with ecological waterway, green space, metasequoias and cypress trees, provides relaxation and happiness for the mind and body.
 
☞ Information and Contact: 64 Wolpo4-ri, Wolpo-ri, Yul-myeon, Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province / www.pigpark.co.kr / 031-641-7540

■ Fall in Love with Insects? – Yeoju Insect Museum◇ The Country’s First Pig-Themed Museum ⓒ G-News Plus, provided by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization
 
In November of last year a highly unusual museum, the Pig Museum, opened in Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province. As the nation’s first pig-themed museum, the exhibition room displays around 5000 pig-themed exhibits including models, pottery and artwork.
 
Furthermore, this unique museum offers an experience program featuring a pig performance area, a pig classroom, and even sausage making, providing visitors with fascinating multisensory enjoyment! In addition, the 4600m² healing garden with ecological waterway, green space, metasequoias and cypress trees, provides relaxation and happiness for the mind and body.
 
☞ Information and Contact: 64 Wolpo4-ri, Wolpo-ri, Yul-myeon, Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province / www.pigpark.co.kr / 031-641-7540

■ Fall in Love with Insects? – Yeoju Insect Museum◇ An Experience Space Where You Can Directly Observe and Touch Real Insects that Live with Humans. ⓒ G-News Plus, provided by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization
 
Yeoju is a historic region bordered by the South Han River. If you pay a visit, you’ll find this humble insect museum, created by one family that fell in love with insects. In the specimen exhibition room, you can see over 1,400 insect specimens from all around the world. If you examine the many mysterious insects up close with a magnifying glass, you’ll notice fascinating details you won’t easily see anywhere else. What’s more, in the aquatic plant and butterfly ecology areas, there are special activity areas where you can touch a variety of real insects that live alongside humans.
 
As the exhibits in the Yeoju Insect Museum are specially designed for children; they are positioned at a height suitable for children’s line of vision. Museum Insect Commentator Kim Geon-u (aged 13, elementary 6^th grader) has, since the age of 5, felt a profound fascination and love for insects, and has read so many books on the subject that he is often referred to by adults as an insect expert. Indeed, he has such a wide knowledge of insects that he has been put in charge of running the experience education program for children who visit the museum.
 
Located near the Hwanghaksan Arboretum in Yeoju and with such nearby attractions as the birthplace of Empress Myeongsong, Yeongneung (Royal tomb of King Sejong and Queen Soheon) and the World Map Museum, you can spend a truly fun and educational day here.
 
☞ Information and Contact: 209-1 Maeryong-ri, Yeoju-gun, Yeoju County, Gyeonggi Province / / www.여주곤충박물관.kr / 031-885-1400

 
■ Head for the World of Robots – Bucheon Robo Park◇ Witness Humanoid Robot Fighting Contests and a Robot Fashion Show Featuring an Exciting Combination of Robotics and High Fashion. ⓒ G-News Plus, provided by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization
 
Bucheon Robo Park, Korea’s first permanent robot exhibition area, is a special venue where you can see realistic robot 3D videos at a 4D cinema, and experience a museum that focuses on the definition and history of robots, and features robot soccer games, robot mazes, robot obstacle courses, dancing robots and painting robots. You can also take photos with ‘Hyubo’, the first humanoid robot in Korea, as well as ‘Maru’ and ‘Ara,’ the world’s first human-style robots based on networks.

You will also be able to witness a number of exciting events featuring robots, including robot fighting contests in a variety of weight classes, and a Robot Fashion Show which showcases a vibrant combination of robotics and high fashion.
 
☞ Inquiries: 193 Yakdae-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon City, Gyeonggi Province / www.robopark.org / 070-7094-5479 / Open from 10am to 6pm
 
ⓒ G-News Plus |  Chun Gyung-nam chun0403@kg21.net
 
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