Ureuk Museum, Goryeong

The Ureuk Museum is Korea's only museum devoted to Ureuk, the master musician who created the gayageum, and the instrument itself. The Korea Tourism Organization introduces it as a place to learn about the gayageum and Ureuk in Goryeong, home of the gayageum. Admission is free; it is closed on Mondays, 1 January and Seollal and Chuseok days, opening 9:00 to 18:00 from March to October and 9:00 to 17:00 from November to February, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Guides are always on duty, and foreign-language guiding needs a reservation.

It is the only themed museum in Korea that researches, collects, preserves and displays material on Ureuk and the gayageum, including instruments shown on artefacts such as clay figurines on pottery and the gilt-bronze incense burner. It is sometimes listed as a facility of the Daegaya Museum, but check its own hours and closures; see the Daegaya Museum. The commentary says the museum stands where Ureuk is said to have played with his disciples: the gayageum rang "jeong, jeong, jeong", so the valley became Jeongjeonggol. Ureuk is counted among Korea's three great musicians, with Wang San-ak of Goguryeo and Bak Yeon of Joseon.

From the statue of Ureuk on the left of the entrance, look at the roof: shaped like a gayageum, rounded on top and flat below for round heaven and flat earth, with twelve strings for the twelve months. Turn round and the Ureuk Memorial Tower is on the hill, about 15 minutes' walk.

The exhibits say the gayageum was made under King Gasil of Daegaya in the 6th century. The Records of the Three Kingdoms (Book of Wei) says the people of Byeonhan plucked an instrument like the seul, and Gaya and Silla figurines show instruments played upright. Three gayageum sent from Silla survive in the Japanese imperial repository. Continue with the Jisandong Ancient Tombs and the Goryeong guide.

Citing the music treatise in the Samguk Sagi, the commentary says King Gasil, because the Gaya states spoke different dialects, had twelve pieces composed for twelve regions. The first, Hagarado, refers to Garak-guk in Gimhae, called Namgara; the second, Sanggarado, to Daegaya in Goryeong. The regions named reach from Goryeong to Namwon, Imsil, Yeosu and Suncheon, broadly matching Daegaya's late-5th-century peak. When Ureuk composed them is unknown: one view is the 510s, before he fled to Silla amid turmoil; another is that they were written to unite the confederation under Baekje pressure in 516. The story of King Jinheung of Silla welcoming Ureuk and having him teach musicians is dramatised and should be distinguished from fact.

• It is closed on Mondays, 1 January and Seollal and Chuseok days.
• Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
• Foreign-language guiding needs a reservation.
• The Ureuk Memorial Tower is about 15 minutes’ walk.

• Music lovers: the gayageum’s structure, playing and the development of the sanjo gayageum.
• Families: push-button displays let you hear the instruments.
• Free visits: free admission and guides on duty.
• Goryeong itineraries: combine with the Daegaya Museum and the tombs.

Fees, hours and programmes can change, so check the latest information before you visit.