한양대학교 박물관

The Hanyang University Museum prepared the Special Exhibition 'Homo Vians (Traveling Man)' to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the full liberalization of overseas travel in 1989 and the 77th anniversary of Hanyang University's founding. This exhibition begins with the question, "Why do humans travel?" and seeks to examine the themes of the traveler's feet, bag, and eyes from a historical and cultural anthropological perspective. We also introduce the school excursion and honeymoon as rites of passage in life, and reflect on our own travel since 1989.

First, we examine the purpose of travel, such as learning, religion, economic benefit, and pleasure, and look into the means of travel, including feet, horses, trains, and ships. The 'Traveler's Bag' section showcases essential items for travel. It introduces Jeong Guk-hyeon's Nokmun (Travel document) (held by Sungkyunkwan University Museum), used as a travel certificate in the late Joseon Dynasty, and the Haenggugeon-gi (Record of Traveling Articles) (held by Gyeonggi Provincial Museum), which lists the travel necessities of the Joseon Dynasty Literati (Sadaebu). Also on display is a toiletries set (Korea University Museum) used by Yu Gil-jun, a member of the Enlightenment Party (Gaehwapa), during his travels in the modern era.

The 'Traveler's Eye' section examines travelers' written and pictorial records from the Joseon Dynasty to the modern era. These include Yi Pung-ik's Donyucheop (Eastern Excursion Album) (Sungkyunkwan University Museum), an album of paintings and poems left after touring Geumgangsan at the age of 21, Jeong Woon-gyeong's Tamna Gyeonmunrok (Record of Observations in Tamna (Jeju)) (Sogang University Museum), which collected the records of drifters (shipwreck survivors), and Hong Dae-yong's Eulbyeong Yeonhaengrok.

The Record of Inspection in Japan of Mr. Kwon from Andong, who attended the Peace Memorial Tokyo Exposition (Dongguksa Temple, Gunsan)—an event started as part of Japan's colonial policy during the Japanese occupation—is revealed for the first time. In addition, the exhibition introduces academic research trips during the Japanese occupation era, travelogues published in the mid-20th century, the perspective of female travelers, and the journeys of foreigners in Joseon. Especially, the exhibition features the travel story and personal belongings of Korea's first backpacker, Mr. Kim Chan-sam.

We hope this exhibition will be an opportunity to reflect on our own travels and further enjoy the act of traveling.