Kim Yun-ah, a Hanyang University (HYU) Cultural Anthropology graduate, won the grand prize of the 26th Proud Museum Person award in the National Museum Person Contest. This contest is an event where operators of various museums come together and seek future academic improvement in order to encourage museum culture and promote academics
Q. Please tell us about your current occupation and career path that led up to today’s achievements.
A. Currently, I am working as the Head of the team for the artifact management team at the National Marine Museum located in Busan. The museum studies historically and scientifically significant artifacts derived from and related to the ocean and shares them with the public. My work is focused on preserving marine life and artifacts for future generations and performing academic studies about maritime. This year, I was recognized for securing and promoting maritime artifacts by planning and implementing more than 25 special exhibitions. After studying archeology at HYU graduate school, I worked at HYU museum as a Researcher and Curator. I also have five years’ experience at the Hanam History Museum, which was an extension of my major. There, I worked on exhibitions and artifact exploration as a Curator. In 2011, a year before the opening of the National Marine Museum, I started working as a Founding Member of the museum. Since then, I have worked there for 12 years, focusing on various research, exhibitions, and academics related to maritime.
Q. Would you share some of your thoughts and comments regarding your achievement?
A. It is a great honor to be recognized as the Proud Museum Person when there are so many prominent people working their best in their places at many different museums. Although a curator is not the kind of occupation that gets a lot of spotlight, I am very glad I chose this profession, because I felt like my contribution to protecting and inheriting maritime history was recognized. Starting my career at the HYU Museum 20 years ago has enriched me and has become the foundation for today. I would like to thank my professors, peers, and alumni of HYU for their academic support, and will keep on working harder for the best.
Q. We would like to hear about some of your future goals and plans.
A. Regarding my plans, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to open the Incheon National Marine Museum and the National Oceans and Fisheries Museum in 2024. As a Worker in the first domestic national Marine Museum, I feel that it is my role to endeavor to set the footing as a precedent for following openings, ultimately striving for Korea’s Marine culture to prosper.