14 national museums across the country to take part; regional semifinals in September lead to a central final

The team "Ear Rings if You Hang It on Your Ear," which won the grand prize last year for recreating the "Gyeongju Hwango-dong Gold Earrings" [National Museum of Korea]
The team "Ear Rings if You Hang It on Your Ear," which won the grand prize last year for recreating the "Gyeongju Hwango-dong Gold Earrings" [National Museum of Korea]

"NMK Costume Play," the participatory event in which contestants transform themselves into artifacts, architecture and landscapes from museum collections, is back — and this year it goes national. Buoyed by the buzz it generated last year, the competition is expanding dramatically to encompass 14 national museums across the country.

The National Museum of Korea announced Tuesday that it is accepting applications for the "2026 NMK Costume Play — National Edition" through July 31. The event drew an enthusiastic response from younger audiences last year, and this year the National Museum of Korea and its 13 affiliated museums are joining forces to stage it on a nationwide scale.

NMK Costume Play invites participants to use museum artifacts as creative inspiration, designing and wearing costumes that express their own interpretation on stage. The program blends museum visits with hands-on experience and creative expression. Last year's event spread rapidly through social media, driven largely by the spontaneous participation of young people.

This year, the recruitment campaign itself features posters showcasing signature artifacts from all 14 participating national museums. Content reflecting the character of each region will be released in stages, spotlighting local cultural heritage along the way.

The semifinals will be held over the first and second weekends of September at hub museums in four regional zones. Zone 1 — covering the National Museum of Korea, Jeju and Chuncheon — will compete Sept. 5 at Chuncheon National Museum; Zone 2 — Buyeo, Gongju, Cheongju and Iksan — on Sept. 6 at Gongju National Museum; Zone 3 — Gyeongju, Daegu, Jinju and Gimhae — on Sept. 12 at Daegu National Museum; and Zone 4 — Gwangju, Jeonju and Naju — on Sept. 13 at Jeonju National Museum. The grand final will be held Sept. 19 at the Open Plaza of the National Museum of Korea.

Prize money has also grown. Of the 20 teams that advance to the final, five teams receiving the National Museum of Korea Director's Award will each receive 3 million won (about $1,940), five teams earning the Excellence Award will each receive 1 million won, and 10 teams receiving participation prizes will each receive 500,000 won. The 40 teams that reach the regional semifinals will each receive a 300,000-won participation prize, and all semifinal and final participants will receive an additional 100,000 won per team to cover travel costs. Further details on programs and side events at the semifinals and final will be announced in a separate release at a later date.

Last year's grand prize went to a team that recreated the Silla-era "Gyeongju Hwango-dong Gold Earrings" (Treasure No. 2001). The win drew wide public attention and earned the team an appearance on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block."

Yu Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, said last year's event showed that "the museum has grown much closer to the younger generation." He added that he hopes the expansion into a nationwide cultural festival will give more people across the country the chance to enjoy local cultural heritage and the appeal of K-museums.

The event is sponsored by the National Museum of Korea Association, an organization with a long record of supporting cultural programs, which is backing the competition as part of its efforts to broaden public engagement with cultural heritage.


terry@heraldcorp.com