Gyeongju has welcomed a new cultural landmark with the grand opening of the OAR Contemporary Art Museum (Director: Moonho Kim), which successfully held its inaugural ceremony on April 1.

The event was attended by more than 100 key figures from the local cultural and public sectors, including Joo Nak-young (Mayor of Gyeongju), Lee Dong-hyeop (Chairman of the Gyeongju City Council), Nam-il Kim (President of the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation), Jin-gi Cheon (Chairman of the Gyeongbuk Museum Association), Choon-soon Park (President of the Korean Association of Private Museums), and Hyunjoon Yoo, the architect who led the museum’s design.

The ceremony began with a traditional Korean music performance by Maegangdang, followed by a progress report, appreciation plaque presentation, exhibition introduction, and a guided tour of the museum.

Located on the historic parkland of the Noseo Tumuli Cluster in Gyeongju, OAR Contemporary Art Museum is a three-level building (2 floors above ground and 1 basement level) covering a total floor area of 1,594.06 square meters. The museum houses over 600 works that have been collected by Director Moonho Kim over the past two decades.

The first floor features OAR Coffee, a café integrated with Exhibition Hall 1, offering a cultural space where visitors can enjoy both contemporary art and coffee. The second floor includes a spacious 170㎡ Exhibition Hall 2, ideal for displaying large-scale artworks, and a rooftop terrace that provides panoramic views of the Noseo Tumuli Park and Hwangridan-gil district. From this vantage point, visitors can appreciate the harmonious blend of tumuli and traditional architecture. The basement houses Exhibition Hall 3, a dedicated space for media and video art, along with administrative offices.

With its opening on April 1, the museum presents three inaugural exhibitions: OAR Collection, a curatorial showcase of the museum’s holdings; Echoes of the Earth by internationally acclaimed artist Egami Etsu; and Phantom Garden by Kyungwon Moon & Joonho Jeon, a leading duo in Korean contemporary media art.

Following a week of internal adjustment, the museum officially opens to the public on April 8. Admission fees are 8,000 KRW for adults and 5,000 KRW for youth and children. Discounts are available for toddlers, seniors, and Gyeongju residents. The museum operates from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Sunday, with closures every Tuesday. It also closes on January 1, Lunar New Year’s Day, and Chuseok.

Director Moonho Kim stated, “The name OAR stands for ‘Beauty You Encounter Today,’ and reflects our aspiration to provide a space where the beauty of contemporary art can be appreciated.” He added, “Designed with the goal of harmonizing Gyeongju’s cultural heritage and contemporary aesthetics, the museum aims to become a new artistic landmark in the city.”