Gansong Art Museum

A copy of the Hunminjeongeum, the text that first described the Korean script Hangul, is among the national treasures at the Kansong Art Museum (간송미술관) in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul. In 2011 the museum held twelve national treasures, including Donggukjeongun Books 1 and 2, the gilt-bronze Buddhist triad Geumdong gyemimyeong samjonbul, and the Hyewon pungsokdo genre paintings.

The collection began with Jeon Hyeong-pil, who gathered Korean historical and artistic materials to keep them from being taken to Japan during the colonial period, when many Goryeo porcelains, Silla-era Buddhist statues and Joseon-era texts left the country. In 1938 he founded Bohwagak, the first privately owned museum in Korea. The museum building was designed by architect Park Gil-ryong. It takes its name from Jeon's art name, Kansong.

After Jeon's death in 1962, his sons Jeon Seong-u and Jeon Yeong-u founded the Kansong Art Museum in 1966, along with the Korean Folk Art Research Institute. The museum shows the collection to the public, while the institute carries out academic research. The collection suits visitors interested in Korean writing, art and cultural heritage.