“The exhibition halls and preservation facilities of the University Museum of Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), and the library’s stable systems, are truly world-class.”

On the afternoon of March 27, unfamiliar guests from China visited JBNU’s University Museum and library. While touring the museum’s exhibition halls, storage facilities and the library, they repeatedly gave thumbs-up gestures. These visitors were officials from Zhejiang University, one of China’s three most prestigious universities.

On that day, Yang Guofu (楊國富), Deputy Secretary and Deputy Director of Zhejiang University Library; He Chunhui (何春暉), Deputy Director of the Museum; Hu Zhifu (胡志富), Deputy Director of the Museum; and Qu Jing (瞿晶), Assistant Director of the Library, met with Lee Tae-young, Director of the University Museum, and Lee Jong-chul, museum curator, and toured the museum’s exhibition halls and storage facilities.

They also visited the library to view JBNU’s BIC Library, which will be the largest in the country, and to examine efficient collection management and operations and the electronic library (e-Library).

The purpose of their visit was to benchmark JBNU’s advanced systems — the University Museum, which boasts top facilities following its new construction in 2011, and the library equipped with a well-established electronic library (e-Library) system — and to strengthen exchange relations.

After touring JBNU’s University Museum and library, an international exchange seminar was also held to promote cultural exchange between the two universities.

The seminar was held under the theme of a meeting between Jeonju, the ancestral home of the Joseon royal family and a city famed for its artistic traditions, and Hangzhou, the capital of the Southern Song and renowned for the beautiful West Lake. The seminar included an introduction to JBNU and a presentation by Director Lee Tae-young on “The History and Culture of Jeonju,” followed by presentations from Zhejiang University officials introducing their university and discussing the history and culture of Hangzhou. The session continued with in-depth discussions on close cultural exchange between the two universities.

After closely examining the museum and library, the visiting delegation said, “We are deeply impressed by the exhibition halls and the high-quality collection systems held by JBNU’s University Museum, as well as the library’s stable and systematic operations. We hope this visit will bring both universities closer together in development and lead to robust cultural-exchange relations.”

Director Lee Tae-young responded, “JBNU’s University Museum not only holds the largest collection of ancient documents among domestic universities but also possesses high-quality exhibition halls and valuable artifact storage facilities. I hope to share JBNU’s strong systems with Zhejiang University and to learn from Zhejiang’s strengths so that both universities can develop into a win–win relationship.”