National Police Museum to open “Police, Kim Gu” exhibition on Oct 14
In short
The National Police Museum said it will open a special exhibition titled “Police, Kim Gu” on October 14, marking the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu’s birth and a UNESCO commemoration year. The exhibition covers Kim Gu’s 1919 appointment as the Provisional Government’s first police affairs bureau head and runs until September 2027. Displays include the Baekbeom Ilji, the June 1947 inaugural issue of Minju Gyeongchal, recreated 1940s uniforms and an AI hologram of Kim Gu’s face and voice.
Why it matters
The exhibition is an official commemoration that ties the modern National Police Agency to the Provisional Government’s police force, framed by the museum and the force as a statement about historical continuity. It also puts an AI-generated likeness and voice of a historical figure before the public at a national museum, alongside original documents and researched reproductions. Its direct impact is limited to museum visitors and the two institutions involved.
Key facts
- The National Police Museum will open the special exhibition “Police, Kim Gu” on October 14. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The exhibition is held for the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu’s birth and a UNESCO commemoration year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- It runs until September 2027 in the museum’s third-floor planning exhibition hall. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kim Gu was appointed the first police affairs bureau head, a post equivalent to today’s commissioner general, right after the Provisional Government was established in 1919. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Exhibits include the Baekbeom Ilji, the June 1947 inaugural issue of Minju Gyeongchal, recreated 1940s uniforms and an AI-based hologram of Kim Gu’s face and voice. [ 1 , 3 ]
- An opening ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on October 14 with the acting commissioner general and the Baekbeom Kim Gu Memorial Hall director attending. [ 3 ]
- Acting commissioner general Kim Jong-cheol said the police would carry on the historical tradition of protecting public safety and human rights. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The special exhibition “Police, Kim Gu” opens on October 14 at the National Police Museum. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The exhibition is tied to the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu’s birth and a UNESCO commemoration year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim Gu was appointed the Provisional Government’s first police affairs bureau head in 1919, a post the museum equates with today’s commissioner general. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The exhibition includes the Baekbeom Ilji, the June 1947 inaugural issue of Minju Gyeongchal, recreated 1940s uniforms and an AI hologram of Kim Gu’s face and voice. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Acting commissioner general Kim Jong-cheol said the force would carry on the historical tradition of a police that protects public safety and human rights. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The time of the opening ceremony and the list of attendees Only Seoul Economic Daily reports these details; no other document gives the ceremony’s schedule.
- Admission fees, opening hours and expected visitor numbers None of the documents addresses these points.
- How the AI hologram was produced and from what source material The documents say only that AI technology is used to reproduce Kim Gu’s face and voice.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap, Newsis and Seoul Economic Daily publish reports on October 5 saying the National Police Museum will open the “Police, Kim Gu” exhibition on October 14. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Opening ceremony scheduled on October 14, with the acting commissioner general and the Baekbeom Kim Gu Memorial Hall director attending, followed by remarks, awards and a viewing of the main exhibits. [ 3 ]