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Human beings began to inhabit Korea in the Paleolithic Age(circa. 700 thousand B.C). In the Neolithic Age, which lasted from around 6000 B.C. to about 1000 B.C. people subsisted mainly by plant gathering, hunting and fishing. It is assumed that in that age they began to engage in farming. The inhabitants in the Bronze Age (around 1000 B.C.) are believed to have used the new metal-working technology.

The iron culture, introduced around the fourth century B.C., deeply influenced the inhabitants to make remarkable developments in manufacturing iron implements and earthenwares through the early Iron Age up to the formation of ancient Korean states in the third century A.D..

In the Three Kingdoms period, the Three Kingdoms(Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla ) developed political, social and economic systems independent of each other, and were later unified under United Silla. Buddhism, which was introduced during the Three Kingdoms period, grew and flourished.

The Goryeo Kingdom(936 - 1392) developed more advanced political and social systems by adopting the State Civil Service Examination and, the Stipend Land Law. Also, Buddhism was retained as the state religion. The highly developed culture of Goryeo is represented by their beautiful celadon with artistic designs. Tripitaka Koreana engraved on over 80,000 woodblocks located in Haein-sa Temple, and the world's first movable metal types and printing of Kogkum Sangchong Yemun (Prescripted Ritual Texts of the Past and Present) are dated around 1234.

In the Joseon Kingdom(1392 - 1910), Confucianism was the basis of political, social and economic systems. In particular, the creation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet, and the development of science and technology during the reign of King Sejong were the epoch making events in the development of Korean culture.

The present Korean culture, including occupation, houses, religion, scripts, architecture, science and technology are the result of this evolution from the prehistoric age to the present.

Yagyong Jeong devised an instrument with functions of pulley and crane to construct a rampart of Suwon(Hwaseong, Korea's emergency capital) based on the following principles ; One pulley with 50 Geun(30㎏) of power could lift a weight of 100 Geun(60㎏), and in turn four pulleys in two units of each 40 Geun(24㎏) would pull up the weight of 1,000 Geun(600㎏). At least, he could lift a total of 25,000 Geun(15,000㎏) by using his device, so that wall and fortress were constructed at a considerable saving. His construction plan with diagrams was published with the title of Hwaseongseongyeoguigwe in 1800.

Dancheong is a painting technique which describes landscapes, animals, flowers and birds with five natural dyes symbolizing the points of compass, blue(east), white(west), red(south), black(north), and yellow(center), on Buddhist, Taoist or Confucian structures, the other official buildings. Very old stylized Dancheong has been discovered on mural paintings in the ancient tombs of Goguryeo and Silla Kingdoms.

It is said that copper began to be used in West Asia around 5000 B.C.. A mixture of copper, tin and bronze, was the first copper mixture. Copper mixtures are classified as bronze, brass, cupronickel and reddish, according to the types of mixed materials. We can find zinc in Korean copper mixtures, despite the fact that, in the past, it might have been very difficult to mix zinc and bronze together. Since zinc melts at 450°C and boils at 950°C and bronze's melting point is higher than 1,000°C.

The Divine bell of Seongdeok began to be manufactured by King Gyeongdeok (A.D.765) to cherish the memory of his deceased father King Seongdeok and was completed under the King Hyegong(A.D.771). This is the biggest one of ancient bells remained(height of 333cm, diameter 227cm). This beautiful bell with embossed carvings around its trunk produced a mysterious deep sound.


Goryeo Type,"Pok"(12th century, Bronze)
Movable metal type was developed to resolve problems associated with woodblock printing, such as time consuming engraving. The Goryeo period records that the 50 volume Gogeumsangjeongyemun (Prescribed Ritual Text of the Past and Present is reign) was printed with cast metal during the 21st year of King Gojong(around 1234 A.D.). There is a copy of the movable metal type-printed Jikjisimgyeong , a buddhist commentary, dated the third year of King U is rule(1377 A.D.),This was printed at Heungdeok Temple, making it the oldest in existence movable metal type-printed book.

With a long and unique cultural background, Korea established its own musical tradition distinct from those of China or Japan. Korea traditional music can be classified into three categories: court music, folk music and religious music. Also, musical instruments have developed independently of neighboring nations beginning from the Three Kingdoms period. These instruments are the Geomungo(six-stringed instrument), Gayageum(twelve-stringed instrument), Bipa(Korean straight-necked lute), Piri(bamboo oboe), Kkwaenggwari(small gong), Jing(large gong)and Janggo (mourglass-shaped drum). They are classified into 'eight sounds', according to the type of materials, namely, metal, stone, silk, bamboo, gourd, earth(or clay), leather, and wood.

Goryeo Celadons were represented by those decorated with the inlaying technique. It was Goryeo ceramic artists who applied the inlaying technique, which had been used to decorate lacquerwork and metal object, on ceramics for the first time in world ceramic history.

This bowl-shaped sundial, "Angbu Ilgu", lets us know not only the time, but also which of the 24 subdivisions of the seasons is current. Inside there are two sets of lines, one for time and perpendicular to those, another set for the seasons. In the southern corner of the bowl, the sundial's needle or gnomon points toward the polar star, so that its tip casts a shadow on the lines indicating the time and season. Angbu Ilguwas invented in 1443 during the Joseon Dynasty in the 19th year of King Sejong's reign

heomseongdae is believed to be an astronomical observatory.
This is a replica of the original which was built in Gyeongju, the capital of Silla, in 647, the 16th year of Queen Seondeok's reign. It is a 9.5 meter high stone tower constructed of 365 granite blocks. On the southern side there is a window between each of the 12 lower and upper columns. Inside it is filled with dirt up to 12th column, and the upper space is empty.

King Taejo, founder of the Joseon Dynasty, wanted to have a new astronomical chart as a symbol of the royalty, and his wish was realized as Cheonsangyeolchabunyajido by astronomers. This chart with 1,464 stars was first engraved on a stone on December of 1395 A.D.

This water clock was built and set up in the Borugak(the Annunciating clepsydra Pavilion) by Jang, Yeong-sil according to a command of King Sejong on September, 1433. Characteristically, this is equipped with an elaborate jack-working device which is capable of announcing hours, intervals and night watches autonomically.

Cheugugi , the oldest scientific rain gauge in the world, was invented in the 23rd year of King Sejong's rein (1441) during Joseon Dynasty. It consists of three parts: a cylindrical cast iron or bronze main body, a stone pillar, "Cheugudae" on which the main body of the instrument is placed, and a ruler to measure the depth of rainwater that was collected in the main body.

Korean naval forces ruled the seas efforts during the Japanese invasion of Korea(1592-1598)due to the world's first iron-clad galley under the leadership of Sun-sin Lee, one of the greatest heroes in Korean history. The Geobukseon was well equipped with iron plates to protect rowers and armed with a large iron turtle head-shaped ram. This design protected the ship from enemy weaponry as well as preventing enemy troops from boarding her.

The Gukjooryeseorye(Introdutory remarks on national rituals), published in 1474, described the specifications of the firearms of King Sejong and king Munjong's reign(1418-1452). Development of firearms in the reign of King Sejong was notable as a turning point in the art of casting. The Joseon Kingdom ceased imitating the Chinese model and created distinctively Korean styles.

Hwacha was designed in 1451 by King Munjong(the 5th King of Joseon). The cart body is parted from the axis so as to regulate the angle of the wheel from 0 to 45 degrees. The cart is designed to use both the Chongtonggi (a launcher with 50 guns installed to shoot 200 thin arrows at the same time) and the Singijeongi(a launcher to shoot 100 medium or small rockets at the same time). In time of peace, the armed cart without its launcher was used simply as a cart.