When I heard about a Mangwa (name for Korean roof tiles) museum located in the mountains, I imagined a boring, conventional museum. Surprisingly, when I got there I found a collection worthy of the best downtown galleries, and a great book café in the natural setting. I walked along whistling, as happy as a lark.

The name of the museum, Boroomsan, is similar to Boroomdal (a Korean word referring to the full moon). It is only natural that the name Boroomsan reminds me of Boroomdal, because the low hill in front of the museum is Boroom Mountain, which was named after Boroomdal. Tile artist Jang Jeong-Wung was fascinated by the beautiful scenery, and founded the museum 17 years ago just so that he could see the mountain everyday. The jars became the fence of the museum, and the museum nestled in the bushes looks cozy.

Founded on May 30th, 2009, Boroom Museum consists of two curvy buildings. The main building is used for exhibitions, and the annex building is the house of Curator Jeong. There is a narrow walkway between two buildings. Wild grapevines twine around trees, biblical quotations are carved on stone plates, stone statues of Jeju Island with comic faces and dangerous-looking stone towers give visitors the comfort of nature.

The nation’s only Mangwa artist, Curator Jang has collected Mangwa and other Korean artworks and materials. Quiet Korean traditional tunes are played at the exhibition hall. The annex building accommodates Mangwa of the mid-Joseon period, while the main building houses paintings with the motif of Mangwa. Mangwa is displayed at not only the exhibition halls, but in every corner of the Museum. There is Mangwa decorating the tip of the roof of an old house, and Mangwa symbolizing the authority of families. Most of the Mangwa described dragons or wizards, and had religious meanings. The eaves of the Museum were decorated with diverse Mangwa, ranging from cute ones with a smiling full moon, the symbol of the Museum, to 21st century Mangwa, on which the names of Museum staff are carved.

Curator Jang built the Museum on an area of 2644㎡ by himself. As an amateur builder, he had to lay bricks and cover clay for a long time. Though he made the buildings with yellow mud and eco-friendly materials, he was not thinking about Sick House Syndrome. He did not cut trees when he moved them to the Museum. Sitting on the terrace of the Museum, we can see cuckoos, woodpeckers, Chinese scops owls and owls. Those birds are warmly welcomed at the Museum.

Visitors can read books while enjoying a cup of tea at the book café, which is decorated with yellow mud, wooden floors, antique furniture, rice straw mats and small kerosene lamps. The bookcases are packed with rare items such as “Deep-Rooted Tree,” old magazines published in 1976, as well as interior and arts books. The café serves rice cake made with special products of Gangwon-do and healthy herb teas.
As the Museum is located close to an airport, we do hear the sound of planes. Nevertheless, residents do not get annoyed with the noise, but try to guess the type of plane. The pleasure given by nature may block the noise. 

Address: 893-1 Singok-ri, Gochon-myeon, Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do
Contact: 031-985-0005, www.boroomsan.com
Location: Olympic Expressway  Urban Expressway No. 88  Turn right at Gaehwa IC, to the direction of Ganghwa and Gimpo→ Turn right at the National Road No. 48, to the direction of Ganghwa, Gimpo and Bucheon → Turn left at Daebocheoninhyanggil Singok Sageori, to the direction of Inhyang and Hyundai Hill State → Turn left at Sugi Village 1-gil, to the direction of Inhyang and Hill State 1
Operating Hours: Exhibition Place: 10:00 through 18:00 (summer season) / 10:00 through 17:00 (winter season), Book Café: 10:00 through 21:00 (closed on Mondays)
Admission Fees: Café offerings: Herb teas (KRW 6,000), coffee (from KRW 5,000 to KRW 7,000) and Boroom Rice Cake (KRW 5,000)