Leaping Up and Lifting Legs: 'Costume Play #1' Carp Artifact Revealed

▲ Jeon Eun-seul, the grand prize winner of the "2026 National Museum Costume Play," recreating the pose alongside the artifact

The National Museum of Korea is revealing the actual artifact that inspired the carp costume that recently won the grand prize in the much-talked-about "National Museum Costume Play" event.

The National Museum of Korea announced today (the 23rd) that the "White Porcelain Water Dropper in the Shape of a Carp" will be exhibited in the Buncheong Ware and White Porcelain Gallery on the 3rd floor of the Permanent Exhibition Hall through October 22.

Believed to have been made during the Joseon Dynasty, this blue-and-white porcelain water dropper embodies the ancient legend of a fish swimming up a turbulent current and climbing the Dragon Gate to transform into a dragon. It is characterized by waves painted on the bottom, vividly capturing the moment a carp leaps into the air.

Measuring 9.4 cm in height and 10.6 cm in length, this small artifact is part of the so-called "Lee Kun-hee Collection" donated to the state by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee and his bereaved family.

The "National Museum Costume Play" is a visitor-participation event where participants dress up as artifacts from the museum and express their individuality on stage. A total of 275 teams (643 people) participated this year.

College student Jeon Eun-seul, who participated in the "National Museum Costume Play" held on the 19th, won the grand prize by witty and uniquely reinterpreting the dynamic appearance of the white porcelain carp water dropper.

National Museum of Korea Director-General Yoo Hong-jun said, "We hope visitors will come and see the artifact that inspired the grand prize-winning work, enjoying the fun of comparing the costume's reinterpretation with the actual artifact."

▶ Dancing Royal Seal, Rapping Buddha: Finals of "National Museum Costume Play" Draws Attention

(Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Korea, Yonhap News)

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