All industrialized nations have science museums showcasing the principles and progresses in science and technology and scenes of a future changed by science. Some examples include the Smithsonian in Washington DC, the Science Museum in London, Palais de la decouverte in Paris, and the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo.

Unlike ordinary museums, science museums demonstrate the level of scientific and technological achievements of a country. Today we tour the Gwacheon National Science Museum where visitors can experience all aspects of Korea’s science and technology.

Opened on November 14th 2008, the Gwacheon National Science Museum is located near Seoul Grand Park station of subway line number four. Standing on the land measuring nearly 244 thousand square meters, the museum, also called Scientorium, is designed under the concept of “touch the universe.” An aerial view of the museum shows a structure in the shape of a spiral nebula, or perhaps two crescent moons facing each other, or two spiral-shaped spacecraft ready to take off into space. Housed inside the museum are over 4,200 pieces of displays on 685 subjects. Here’s Mr. Baek Sang-jong of the Gwacheon National Science Museum to tell us more about it.

This is Korea’s largest science museum and one of the grandest in the world. The museum focuses on providing “edurtainment” experiences by having more than 50% of the facilities taken up by hands-on exhibits aimed at giving both educational and entertaining experiences. Our museum teaches children that science is not hard or difficult, but fun and easy.

Some 4,200 pieces of exhibits are displayed in permanent exhibit halls – basic sciences, advanced technology, science park for kids, hall of fame, traditional sciences, and natural history. In addition there are outdoor science plaza, ecological facilities, and astronomical facilities. Foreign visitors can rent headsets equipped with English tour guide and museum information.

Each child can have his or her own headset to hear English explanations. Thanks to that, my children had a great educational experience. I think some of the exhibits showed well the scientific principles that they wanted to convey. I want to recommend this museum to my friends. I liked the scientific principles on display and the exhibits were interactive and fun. It’s a great place to spend the day.

The permanent exhibit hall measures 32 meters to the ceiling and 400 meters in width. Being so vast and diverse, one day is not nearly long enough to see all the displays. So let’s just stop by the must-see courses in the Gwacheon National Science Museum.

The tour of the Gwacheon National Science Museum begins in the Basic Science Hall on the first floor. As the name indicates, this exhibition showcases pieces from the fields of pure science, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. One of the distinguishing features of this hall is that more than half of the exhibits are direct hands-on experience programs. How about a rumble at the thunder-and-lightning corner? Let’s stop at the Tesla coil corner.

At the end of the countdown a roar of thunder and lightning surprises the audience with an ear-splitting boom. This place shows how a lightning is generated by emitting four million volts of electricity in a single burst. Upon seeing currents of electricity buzzing in front of their eyes, visitors involuntarily let out a yelp of surprise and amazement every time the Tesla coil is activated.

Putting the thunder and lightning behind them, visitors move on to the typhoon experience room. They have to put on rain coats and boots before going into the room lest they get soaked by the torrential rain and whirling wind.
In the typhoon room visitors are subjected to a wind whipping at the speed of 30 meters per second and a heavy rain pouring down at 100 millimeters an hour. The gusts of rainy wind seem strong enough to lift people off their feet. Visitors can hardly open their eyes or look ahead.

- I thought I was going to fly away. I was so scared.

Next to the typhoon experience room is the earthquake chamber where visitors can see what it’s like to be in the midst of a magnitude seven earthquake.
The earthquake experience room provides visitors with simulated earthquake experience through motion simulators and four-dimensional videos. People put on special glasses and sit on motion-activated chairs to move through the rocking and sliding scenes of devastation.
In the video a magnitude seven earthquake hits a group of tourists on their way to a national park.
The ground shakes, buildings topple, the roads split, and a tsunami engulfs the beachfront. Visitors know that it is only a simulation, but the vividness of the four-dimensional experience makes them shudder at the sheer force of nature’s fury.

- I saw what could happen when a strong earthquake comes. It would really be scary if the buildings actually collapsed and the roads destroyed.
- I thought we better evacuate quickly when there is an earthquake. I wish no earthquake would come.
- It felt really vivid with the 3D glasses on. But it was scary when a tsunami came to the beach. I felt like I was going to die.

The popular basic science hall helps people understand the principles of science in our daily lives. In addition to geology and physics, the exhibits illustrate various mathematical ideas like Pascal’s triangle and the chaos water mill and biological principles of photosynthesis and neural response rate.

Across from the basic science hall is the advanced technology exhibit, where visitors can see displays on biotechnology, information and communications developments, and space exploration. The advanced technology exhibit occupies two floors, and the lower level is divided into biotechnology, IT, and energy and environmental science sections. At the robot room visitors can see Maru, a humanoid robot developed by the KIST Artificial Intelligence Research Center. The hottest draw here is the dancing robot that can shake and groove to the tune.

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In the biotechnology corner visitors can track the progresses in DNA research, bioengineering, stem cell research, and other medicine and bioengineering fields. The IT and energy and environmental science room features a ubiquitous environment of the future, futuristic housing, and alternative energy options. The upper floor of the advanced technology exhibit is filled with items and programs related to aerospace development. Aircraft manufacturing process and Korean space programs displayed in the hall teach children all about aircraft and spaceships. The best attractions here are the opportunities to experience the astronaut training program and a stay in the international space station and to fly your own airplane. Let’s first see a 4D movie on Korea’s place in space exploration at the theater.

The space travel theater is equipped with 30 movable seats that convey the sensations similar to those experienced in real space travels.
Children who have seen the film hope that one day they can really blast off into space.

- The film showed us the Naro of the future. I wish Korea can succeed like that.
- The lunar landing module takes astronauts to the surface of the moon. The spacecraft is so shiny that I wanted to ride in one, too.

The upper level of the advanced technology exhibit also equipped with a gyroscope that subjects visitors to zero gravity. People can also try out the propulsion backpack developed by NASA for space walk.

There is also Science Park for Kids, which is designed to teach scientific notions to young children. There, children can learn about the principles behind bicycle-generated and wind-powered energy. The Traditional Sciences section demonstrates the ingenuity of ancient Korean scientists and engineers, as well as old scientific equipment. The Natural History hall features displays on the birth and evolution of the Earth and mankind. Here’s Mr. Baek Sang-jong of the Gwacheon National Science Museum again.

The Traditional Sciences section is a good place to see the wisdom of our ancestors. For instance, Joseon era scholar Hong Dae-yong wrote about Kiryukocha, which is a semiautomatic measuring tool that tells distance by sounding a drum after a certain span. It is operated on the same principle as today’s tachometer. There is also a global environment monitoring system called SOS at the Natural History section. Changes in the ozone layer, temperature, ocean currents, clouds, and other natural environments are shown on the 2-meter-diameter globe on a real time basis.

Now let’s go to the pride of Scientorium, its planetarium and observatory. At the planetarium visitors can see the night skies with various constellations, the Milky Way and all projected on the 25-meter dome screen.

As the lights in the planetarium dim, its ceiling begins to fill up with countless stars.
Famous mythical figures come to life when the stars are connected with green lines.

Children get excited as they recognize the names and shapes of famous constellations. Winter is the season with the most beautiful night sky and the season’s signature constellation Sirius comes into view.

- I saw all the constellations and the universe. It was really fun when I went inside. It felt like we were standing still and the whole place was moving. The night sky was very beautiful.
- I observed the constellations. It was exciting and interesting like a movie. I found out more about the mysteries of the universe. The planetarium was big and held many experiments, which were very useful and fun.

The observatory features a variety of astronomical observation equipment, including a 100-centimeter optical telescope, 7.2-meter radio telescope, and a solar telescope. These telescopes allow visitors to view the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and other heavenly bodies.

The Ecological Learning Area is children’s favorite with an insectariums and an eco-park. Children especially go wild over the dinosaur park where actual-sized models of ancient dinosaurs fascinate them. A day goes by quickly as visitors tour both outdoor and indoor exhibits.

- The museum was experience-oriented. It was fun experiencing a typhoon, an earthquake and lightning. I was most impressed by the planetarium. The museum shows us the mysteries of the universe and the earth, and I can learn a lot about electronic technology.
- The best part was actually experiencing the environments and seeing dinosaur models and fossil. The Museum was really great.

The Gwacheon National Science Museum combines hard theory with play to make science fun. Find out the power and potential of science and technology at the nation’s premier science museum.