Competition Type: International design competition for domestic and foreign architects (including corporations)

Organizer: National Museum of Korea, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism 

Competition Backgrounds

  • The National Museum of Korea is an institution that oversees the preservation of state-owned buried cultural assets excavated from across the country based on the Cultural Heritage Protection Act. In addition, it has expanded its role from an institution that establishes and educates national cultural identity to a cultural center that responds to the diverse cultural demands of modern society.
  • The Chungju National Museum is the 14th national museum to be located in Chungju, the central part of the Korean Peninsula, which has been geographically and historically very important as well as the core of Jungwon culture.
  • Jungwon culture, which refers to the culture of the central region, is the culture of empires in history that tried to occupy this region while noticing the strategic importance of it from prehistoric times to the Chosun Dynasty. It has developed further through the trade and transport of Namhan River penetrating central region from east to west and is being passed down through the lives and relics of the people who flocked to the area along the river. However, the relics of Jungwon culture has been scattered and stored in nearby museums, and they are now moving to Chungju, the center of Jungwon culture, to be exihibited, researched, and used for education in the new museum.
  • The Chungju National Martial Arts Park (hereinafter referred to as 'Martial Arts Park') was selected as the site for the Chungju National Museum, which has a beautiful natural environment around and is loved and visited by Chungju citizens. The Martial Arts Park is used for a short time as a place for the biennial World Martial Arts Festival, but most of the time it is an ordinary place remaining as a riverside citizen park. Therefore, with the establishment of the Chungju National Museum, the Martial Arts Park is not just a space for leisure and relaxation, but also serves as a spatial basis for local cultural activities providing a variety of things to enjoy and see. It is expected to establish itself as a cultural powerhouse, a base for culture and art in the city.
  • The site, along with Tangeumdae (historic site and park with observation point) and Tangeumdaegyo(connecting bridge), is a major viewing point of the Namhangang River, and has the countrywide bicycle path passing by and for that reason, it has the potential as a new tourist destination that can be visited by many people throughout the country.
  • Therefore, we intend to open a competition seeking creative design proposals that go beyond the typical architecture of the existing national museum, present the role and vision of a new museum with new spatial possibilities. The new design should not only convey the new exhibition concept and message of the museum collections, but also attract visitors and contribute to the revitalization of the area with the attractiveness of the architectural space itself.
  • Through the establishment of the Chungju National Museum that successfully contains historical, cultural, and regional contexts, it is intended to create an active communication space for citizens, and use it as an opportunity to present a new development direction and architectural vision for the region.

Site and Scope of Design

  • Location : 533, 600 Geumneung-dong, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbukdo
  • Site Area : 20,000m2
  • Area/District : Urban Area, Natural Green Area, Tourist District, Flight Safety Zone(District 6), Historical and Cultural Preservation Area
  • Gross Floor Area : 9,635m2
  • Usage : Culture and Assembly Facility (Exhibition)
  • Building Coverage ratio : 20% or less (Building Area 4,000m2 or less)
  • Floor Area Ratio : 80% or calculation: 16,000m2 or less)
  • Height : Height restrictions according to the Military Bases and Military Facilities Protection Act

Project Budget

  • Estimated construction cost : 25,427 million (including VAT)
  • Estimated design fee : 1,463 million (including VAT, Certification fees(2-15 for details), related service expenses)
  • Estimated construction cost for exhibition : 5,537 million (To be ordered separately)