Set in some of Seoul’s most picturesque hanok in Seongbuk-gu is the Korea Furniture Museum. The museum housed in 10 small traditional Korean houses displays a stunning array of the country’s most prized and brilliantly crafted antique furniture dating back to the Joseon period.

The Furniture Museum was one of the many stops made by the Culture Communication Forum participants to learn about the creativity and intricacies of the design of Korean furniture in a non-museum-like atmosphere.

During the tour of the museum, visitors were able to get a glimpse of what it must have been like to have lived in Korea in ancient times. 

“Today we saw Hyundai and it was just the pinnacle of design globally, and then you have places like the Furniture Museum,” said American wine critic James Suckling during his visit to the museum. “I can’t think of bigger contrasts than those two things.”

After nearly 14 years of construction, the museum officially opened its doors in 2008. Its director Chyung Mi-sook has amassed a collection of around 2,000 pieces of furniture, around 500 of which are elegantly displayed around the flawlessly landscaped property.

“I study art and design. That’s why I was so interested in the Furniture Museum,” said Ludovic Burel, a writer and professor at France’s ESAD Art School. “Korean architecture motivated me a lot. It’s very impressive.”

The private museum, which only admits visitors who have made a reservation, has one of the most extensive collections of genuine, traditional furniture in the city, ranging from armoires, desks and tables to wooden containers meant to store royal scrolls.

This year’s event ran Sept. 1-3, during which guests had opportunities to learn about the country while engaging in Korean cultural activities and performances, as well as trying out the local cuisine.

CICI guests made visits to Changdeokgung Palace, the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, the Hyundai Card Design Library and Building, as well as attending the hit Korean musical “Miso.”

Participants also visited the Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine where they learned first hand about the court food of the Joseon era. They also enjoyed a taste of both traditional and contemporary Korean meals, dining at Korean fine dining establishments such as Siwhadam, Congdu and Yongsusan.

The participants were also invited to a special dinner hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in their honor at Hwa Soo Mok by Kang Leo in Itaewon.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)