The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in the United States has opened a new gallery dedicated to Korea.

The gallery, which measures some 170 square meters, includes sections on Korean nature, traditional ceramics, the Korean alphabet Hangeul and modern art.

Among the featured items are traditional wedding clothing for a bride and groom, examples of calligraphy, wooden furniture, stone and wooden sculptures, and paintings.

The Korea Gallery is the first independent exhibition room centered on a particular country at the museum.

Efforts to open the Korean Gallery were launched after First Lady Kwon Yang-suk visited the museum in Washington in 2003.

The Korea Foundation provided one-point-25 million dollars in assistance for the exhibition room while the National Folk Museum of Korea offered advice on displays.

Many of the items on display are from the museum's anthropology collection and others were donated for the exhibit.