Dreams of Joseon-era People: Pyeongsaengdo

Unveiling the Secrets of an Eight-Panel Folding Screen

The Pyeongsaengdo, or "Pictures of a Lifetime," is a late-Joseon Dynasty folding screen depicting eight of the most joyful milestones a person might experience in life. These include a child's first birthday celebration, passing the civil service exam, receiving a government post, and celebrating a 60th wedding anniversary. The work captures the aspirations of Joseon-era Koreans for harmony at home and success in society—desires that resonate just as strongly today.

The National Museum of Korea has launched a special online exhibition titled "Dreams of the Joseon People: Pyeongsaengdo". Hosted on the museum’s official website, this digital experience features high-resolution imagery, detailed commentary, and restoration content related to all eight scenes of the screen. Visitors can access contextual information through the “What is Pyeongsaengdo?” section, where each painting is carefully explained. Interactive features allow users to zoom in on specific details, which are accompanied by in-depth explanations that shed light on the sociocultural landscape of late Joseon.

A special “Digital Restoration” section compares the artwork before and after restoration, offering insight into both the creative process and the technology used. Scholarly resources are also provided, elevating the experience beyond passive viewing to an opportunity for deeper engagement.

A Showcase of World-Class Digital Restoration

What makes this webpage particularly noteworthy is its demonstration of the remarkable achievements in digital restoration. After capturing high-resolution images of the original Pyeongsaengdo, the faded and damaged areas were digitally restored. Discolored or contaminated sections were carefully reconstructed to closely match the screen’s original palette, enhancing both its clarity and visual impact.

The fidelity of the restoration is so precise that even under extreme magnification—where individual silk threads in the painting's fabric can be seen—there are virtually no visible traces of digital intervention. Visitors can even simulate brushstrokes themselves through an interactive feature, allowing them to participate in the restoration process. Additionally, users can compare detailed sections of the artwork before and after restoration, offering an immersive appreciation of both the artistry and the technology.

One of the greatest strengths of digital restoration is its adaptability: it allows updates and refinements based on new research or perspectives. This makes digital restoration especially valuable for overseas exhibitions and Korean galleries at foreign museums, particularly when displaying fragile paper-based cultural properties that are difficult to loan internationally. Typically, paper-based artifacts can be shown for only up to three months and require a nine-month resting period before re-exhibition.

Given these limitations, paper-based artworks are rarely featured abroad. Digital content based on such collections thus offers a practical and effective way to share Korean culture with international audiences.

Global Reach and Touring Exhibitions

The "Dreams of the Joseon People: Pyeongsaengdo" webpage has been translated into six languages, including English, and will be featured on the museum’s English site as well as on the websites of Korean Cultural Centers worldwide. A digital media folding screen based on the Pyeongsaengdo content is currently in development and will tour Korean galleries abroad, international cultural exhibitions, and Korean Cultural Centers. It will also be screened for domestic audiences in Theater 2 of the National Museum’s Digital Immersive Exhibition Hall.

Through Pyeongsaengdo, which illustrates the eight most cherished moments of life imagined by the people of the Joseon Dynasty, we hope that visitors—both in Korea and around the world—will reflect on the meaning of life and discover personal aspirations within the artwork. We also hope that the success of this project will help digital restoration become a vital technology for preserving and sharing the enduring value of Korea’s cultural heritage.