ssirum originated as a duel or martial art contests during prehistoric times, then evolved into a sport as the nation developed. There are references to a competition similar to ssirum in the History of the Post-Han from the Three Han States of China and the History of the Early Choson Period by Shin Chaeho. In addition, there is a painting on the western wall of the main chamber of an ancient tomb from around the 4th century AD, Koguryo, which depicts a scene from a ssirum match. The ssirum wrestler gets into the proper state of mind by expressing etiquette through his body movements. They influence the condition of the mind and the movement of the body. Etiquette concerns three basic elements, heaven, earth, and man, and the movements of the hand, leg, and waist are classified as heaven, earth, and man, respectively.

Taekkyon is a traditional martial art native to Korea. It originated around 2,000 years ago and centered around Manchuria and the Korean peninsula. T'aekyon was called takkyon in the ‘Chaemulbo’, The Book of Treasures that was published during Chongjo's reign in the Choson dynasty. In the Dictionary of the Korean Language, it was called taekkyon and finally taekkyon.

유재철명장은 늦깍이 염장이이다. 사회생활 이것 저것 실패를 맞보고 패배의식에서 나이가 들어서 비로소 제 손에 맞는 일을 찾은 것이다. 그러니 절실했고 최선을 다하는 일이 될 수 있었다. 명장에게 염장이란 무엇일까? 망자를 마지막으로 고이 단장해 저승으로 보내 드리는 숭고한 예식을 집전하는 사람이 유명장이다. 즉 염습(殮襲)을 해주는 이다. 염은 소렴과 대렴으로 나뉘는데 소렴은 시신을 옷과 홑이불로 싸서 묶는 것이고 대렴은 시신을 묶어서 관에 넣는 것이다. 습(襲)은 시신을 목욕시켜 모든 의복을 입히는 것을 말한다. 명장이 대통령 염장이로 불리게 된 계기는 2006년 최규하 대통령 국민장을 모신 이후로 2009년 노무현 대통령 국민장, 2009년 김대중 대통령 국장, 2015년 김영삼 대통령 국가장을 진행하는 등 네 분의 대통령을 모셨기 때문이다.

Salpuri derives from shamanic ceremonies aimed at spiritual cleansing. The word salpuri means relieving a murderous evil spirit, and the dance originally was meant to appease evil spirits. Today, however, salp'uri is almost exclusively performed for artistic purposes and is considered one of Korea's most creative traditional dance forms.

The Korean alphabet used today was invented by a team of scholars commissioned by the Choson king Sejong in 1443. King Sejong was determined to develop a script that could be used by all Koreans. Until that time, Koreans used Chinese ideographs to express their language in writing, sometimes to represent the ideographs' original meaning and sometimes to simply express sounds.

This three-legged bronze vessel from Kyongju's Tomb of the Heavenly Horse was probably used as an incense burner. Its three legs reflect the ubiquitous Korean attachment to the number three, which was apparent from earliest times. Indeed, a belief in the power of the number three is found in many cultures throughout East Asia and the world. A three-legged crow, an image from Chinese myth, is found in Koguryo tomb paintings. Three-story pagodas and Buddhist triads are plentiful throughout Korea and East Asia, and much of the furniture from Korea's Choson kingdom features three drawers, doors or stories. All reflect a belief in the cosmic relationship between the heavens, earth and humanity.

The traditional Korean costume, or hanbok, is a simple garment which is often enhanced by the use of personal accessories, such as small purses, folding fans or knotted pendants called norigae. Some norigae are extremely simple --just a flash of color and a few tassels-- but others are extremely elaborate, combining complicated knotting, jewels and beading.

국외소재문화재재단은 지난 2013년부터 국외문화재 보존ㆍ복원 사업을 지원해 오고 있는데 지금까지 8개국 21개 기관 36건의 보존처리를 완료하고 2015년, 2016년, 2017년에 전시를 통해 우리국민에게 공개해 오고 있다. 올해도 국립고궁박물관은 문화재청과 국외소재문화재재단의 지원으로 외국 박물관에 소장된 우리 문화재의 보존처리를 완료하고 국립고궁박물관 1층 특별전시실에서 10월 13일까지 전시를 개최한다.

지금 국립고궁박물관 1층 전시실에서는 ‘우리 손에서 되살아난 옛 그림’이라는 주제로 전시회를 10월 13일까지 열고 있다. ‘우리 손에서 되살아났다’는 의미는 해외 기관이 소장한 우리 유물들을 국내로 들여와 보존처리하고 복원하여 원형을 되살리는 작업을 마쳤다는 뜻이다. 오랜 세월 여러 소장자를 거치며 전해진 그림들은 때를 타거나 찢기는가 하면 보수하는 과정에서 처음 그린 때의 원형을 잃기도 한다. 따라서 이런 옛 유물들을 어떻게 보존처리를 하는지? 그 과정들을 도표와 영상을 통해 친절하게 보여준다..

Koreans are the only people in East Asia to eat their rice and soup with spoons. Neither the Chinese nor the Japanese use spoons so regularly. The Korean attachment to spoons no doubt derives from the many soups and stews that are part of their cuisine and the national preference for sticky rice. Korea is a small country with water on three of its sides. More than half of its land area is mountainous. Koreans enjoy a rich and varied menu, however. They began growing cereals during the mid-Neolithic period, and rice cultivation was introduced to some parts of the country around 2000 B.C. Rice remains the main staple and is eaten with a great variety of side dishes featuring vegetables, fish, and meats. Fermented foods, such as soy sauce, bean paste, and red pepper paste, were important sources of protein in early times and remain Korean favorites. Of course, no Korean meal would be complete without the ubiquitous kimchi, fermented vegetables essential to the traditional winter diet because of the scarcity of fresh vegetables. Today few homes are without a refrigerator, but kimchi remains on every Korean table. Each region has its own special kimchi, reflecting variations in climate and local traditions. Koreans also enjoy varied holiday fare. Rice cakes, red bean porridge. or glutinous rice are found on most holiday tables. New Year's Day is always celebrated with steaming bowls of ttokkuk, rice cake soup. The Tano Festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month features cakes made from rice flour and flavored with mugwort or azalea flowers. Chusok, the Harvest Moon Festival, is a time for thanking the spirits for a bountiful harvest and honoring one's ancestors. Crescent-shaped rice cakes are served at this time, while red bean porridge is eaten on the winter solstice. These traditions are vivid proof that food feeds both the stomach and the soul.