The National Museum of Korea has opened a virtual museum.
On the 12th, the museum announced, “We’ve built a virtual museum within the K-metaverse platform ZEPETO and released it under the name ‘Healing Garden (feat. Pensive Bodhisattva from the National Museum of Korea)’.”
‘Healing Garden’ on ZEPETO is a metaverse world that features the museum’s two National Treasure gilt-bronze Pensive Bodhisattva statues. A metaverse is a 3D virtual space where avatars carry out daily life and social interaction on behalf of the user—essentially a virtual version of the real world.
The museum stated, “After the COVID-19 pandemic limited visitor engagement and expanded the importance of contactless experiences, we recognized the potential of metaverse platforms as communication tools. We launched this virtual museum in partnership with ZEPETO to engage Generation Z, who are familiar with digital experiences, and international audiences who may have limited exposure to Korean culture.”
In just four days after launch, ‘Healing Garden’ drew over 950,000 visitors—over 93% of whom were from overseas.
In this space, the Pensive Bodhisattvas are placed in an outdoor natural setting filled with sunlight and tranquility, designed to express healing and contemplative messages that align with the emotional sensibilities of the global Gen Z audience.
Surrounded by puffy clouds, fields blooming with seasonal flowers, calm lakes, and majestic trees, the Pensive Bodhisattvas exist in a serene world built upon the values of healing. This differs from conventional virtual museums, which typically replicate physical exhibition spaces.
Visitors can interact with objects in the world and communicate with others in real time.
Through completing various tasks, users can approach and engage with the Pensive Bodhisattvas. They might search for nature-inspired gems among seasonal flowers to illuminate the statues or enter a mystical cave to imitate the Bodhisattva’s pose and take selfies.
The journey toward the Bodhisattva is not a high-stakes challenge but a leisurely and peaceful experience of rest and play.
Visitors can climb trees to take in the view, sit on rocks to meditate, or lie in flower-covered fields chatting with friends. Beyond completing tasks, participants are free to spend time however they like—interacting, capturing photos and videos, and expressing themselves creatively.
