Iksan National Museum

The excavation of the Mireuksa Temple Site was conducted by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage over an extended period from 1980 to 1996. In the process, the size and building layout of the temple grounds during the Baekje Kingdom was identified, and over 19,000 artifacts dating from its establishment to the Joseon Dynasty were recovered.

The Mireuksaji Museum was established by Jeollbuk-do Province in 1997, to preserve, exhibit, and use the cultural heritage excavated from the Mireuksa Temple Site for educational purposes.

Meanwhile, a large number of sarira reliquaries were excavated while dismantling the Stone Pagoda (National Treasure No. 11) at the Mireuksa Temple Site for restoration in January 2009. In July 2015, the Mireuksa Temple Site and Wanggung-ri archeological site were inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This had heightened the need for systematic management and use of cultural heritage excavated from the Mireuksa Temple Site and Iksan area, The existing provincial museum was changed to a national museum in late December 2015.

The current museum plans to expand and reorganize into the Iksan National Museum in early 2020. The new museum to be built south of the existing building will further engage in comprehensive conservation of the cultural heritage in the Iksan cultural area as well as its utilization for exhibition and education so that the museum will become a cultural complex which is representative of the ancient city of Iksan.

Iksan National Museum will strive to advance the local culture and promote the public’s right to cultural appreciation with openness and humility.

Thank you.