The ‘SK Heritage Museum’: Looking back at the essence of challenge and innovation
A panoramic view of the newly-opened SK Heritage Museum at the SK Academy in Yongin
Since its founding as Sunkyung Textiles on the 8th of April 1953, SK has helped to write Korea’s modern history. Now, SK, which, as a global leader is writing a new chapter in its history, has opened the ‘SK Heritage Museum’, which showcases the past, present and future of the company all in one place.
66 years of history on display
The grand opening of the ‘SK Heritage Museum’ was held to coincide with the 66th anniversary of the founding of the company. The museum, which will become a new showpiece for SK and the cornerstone for the future, comprises exhibits displaying meaningful historic moments from the early days of the company and the values behind its rapid growth.
The museum comprises three floors including one basement and construction was completed on a site at the SK Academy in just one year after breaking ground. The main hall and admin offices from Sunkyung Textiles, the forefather of SK group, have been moved and restored on this site to emphasize the Group’s vision and philosophy.
A leap back in time to the 1950s
The interior of the Sunkyung Textiles factory, which has been recreated on the first floor (left); making a souvenir card of your visit using the factory ‘time clock’ (right).
Next to the main building of the Heritage Museum, visitors are greeted by an infinity pond, which leads to the main entrance and, which embodies the daily lives of decades-worth of SK Members. Upon entering the museum, visitors experience a leap back in time to the 1950s as the first floor is a recreation of the interior of the early days of the Sunkyung Textiles factory. Upon scanning the QR code attached to the ‘factory time clock’ with a mobile device, visitors can make a souvenir card of their visit.
A recreation of the Chairman’s Office from the 1970s (left) and the business cards displayed there (right).
If the first floor is about experiencing the time when the company was founded, the second floor is all about appreciating the story behind SK’s rapid growth. The ambiance in the recreation of the 1970s Chairman’s Office is heightened by the display of various artifacts actually used by the Founding and Former Chairmen. If visitors call the telephone numbers listed on the business cards displayed in the office, they can hear mock greetings from the Founding and Former Chairmen.
Diverse displays in the basement.
Upon descending into the basement, visitors can see the admin office from Sunkyung Textiles Suwon Factory, which stood firm throughout the Korean War and, which has been moved here and repurposed as a Remembrance Hall to the Founding and Former Chairmen. Additionally, visitors can enjoy various anecdotes about the history of SK’s industrial growth by using the cutting-edge technology ensconced in the touchscreens and graphic panels.
A model of the old Sunkyung Textiles Main Building (left) and a recreation of its interior (right).
Moreover, there are further exhibits in the basement of the adjacent Talent Hall Building. In addition to viewing a faithful recreation of the interior of the Sunkyung Textiles factory, visitors can try on an old Sunkyung Textiles uniform and feel transported back to that era for a souvenir photo.
SK has continuously been looking at the world with a new perspective and resolve as Korea has changed around it. The SK Heritage Museum, which is imbued with the experiences of growing from a small textiles factory into a global conglomerate, is expected to continue to further everyone’s happiness in the future.
<Published by MEDIA SK>
