Joseon Industrial Exhibition


The Joseon Industrial Exhibition was a colonial fair held to mark the 5th anniversary of the establishment of Japanese Korea, and was the first official event of the new government held in Gyeongseong.

Location and buildings

The exhibition was held in the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung palace and took place in both existing buildings, and newly constructed ones.
The layout was designed to contrast old/Korean architecture with modern/Japanese architecture, with, for example, visitors entering through the existing Gwanghwamun gate, then seeing the new Illhogwan, which stood in front of the Geunjeongjeon throne room.

Contents

There were over 40,000 exhibits, mainly Japanese and Korean, with some Taiwanese exhibits. There were agricultural objects in Illhogwan, and further objects in the Kigyegwan and the Ch'amgogwan halls.

Visitors

Over 1 million people attended the exhibition before it closed on 31 October 1915.