By Honorary Reporter Daniela Astolfi from Italy

Photos = National Museum of Korea's four stores

More than just an archive, a museum has a range of services that help visitors enjoy their trip. The four stores at the National Museum of Korea offer books, stationery, and household and decorative items that are often inspired by the works displayed at the museum.

The following are excerpts from an interview on the stores with Lee Young-joo, a member of the cultural product team at the Cultural Foundation of the National Museum of Korea.

What are your duties?
I handle the stores, product promotion and marketing for the cultural product team.

Describe the foundation. And is there a store for children?
The foundation is a public institution under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with the purpose of "promoting the preservation, inheritance and use of cultural heritage and promoting the people's cultural enjoyment."

In addition to featuring the beauty of the old, we are developing and distributing museum products compatible with life today. And the museum has a separate museum and store for children.

Who created the museum logo on the items?
The logo was produced by the museum's internal agency. The museum and the foundation are separate institutions, with the former preserving and managing artifacts and the latter organizing and running exhibitions, performances, products, and food and beverage service for national museums across the country.

The National Museum of Korea has four stores.

What are the bestselling items on your online sales site?
Different products sell well at different times, and semi-private miniatures that were recently unveiled at the studio of the K-pop group BTS are the most popular.

Among the items you sell are works of art, crafts and design. Who made them? 
The foundation has a design team that plans, designs and has products made by small businesses.
We also have handicrafts and industrial products, but they are all sold as domestically manufactured items.

King's official robe cup set

What are the demographics of buyers?

Koreans in their 20s and 30s mainly like Korean and practical products, and Goryeo celadon ear buds and mobile phone accessories are popular. Those in their 40s and 50s like cutlery sets, handkerchiefs, ties and glass sets.

Foreign customers prefer items like tumblers, business card holders, travel bags, bookmarks, umbrellas and masks as well as Goryeo celadon.

Traditional items

Fashion masks embroidered with elements of Korean cultural heritage 

Which should visitors know about the museum's stores?
We have a variety of practical products using relics featuring the wisdom and style of Korea's ancestors, and we hold related performances and exhibitions. So please visit the museum. 

Stationary items

What projects are the museum planning?
Many K-dramas are being filmed here, TV sponsorships are coming in, and more products are being designed and produced in cooperation with other brands. So we expect more collaborative opportunities.

kalhong617@korea.kr 

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.