Yangju Municipal Hoeamsa Temple Site Museum to Host Special Exhibition <Dan Dan – Short but Upright>
Revisiting the Life of Queen Dangyeong, the ‘Queen of Seven Days’... The Narrative of a Joseon Queen Read Through the Value of ‘Righteousness’ Beyond Tragedy
[Break News Yangju = Reporter Kim Wan-young] The Yangju Municipal Hoeamsa Temple Site Museum in Gyeonggi-do revisits the life of Queen Dangyeong, the ‘Queen of Seven Days’... The Narrative of a Joseon Queen Read Through the Value of ‘Righteousness’ Beyond Tragedy
Yangju City will host the 2026 special exhibition <Dan Dan – Short but Upright> at the Yangju Municipal Hoeamsa Temple Site Museum from April 14 to August 2. The opening ceremony will be held at the museum on April 17 at 4:30 PM.
This exhibition sheds new light on the life of Queen Dangyeong, the queen with the shortest reign in Joseon history. With interest in the tragic figures of the Joseon royal family rising following the recent buzz surrounding the film *The Man Who Lives with Kings*, the story of Queen Dangyeong, who stepped down from the throne after just seven days, is once again drawing attention.
She is also resonating with the public as the real-life historical protagonist of the 2017 KBS drama *Queen for Seven Days*.
The exhibition sheds light on her journey from being born into a prestigious family to becoming queen, as well as the turning point in her destiny she faced amidst the turbulent Jungjong Coup of 1506. Furthermore, through her solitary life of silently enduring over 50 years after her dethronement, the exhibition examines the choices and decisions hidden behind a life remembered as a tragedy. Prepared in collaboration with the Geochang Shin Clan Association, descendants of Queen Dangyeong, this exhibition will feature representative exhibits including the *Onneungbongneungdogamuigye* (Records of the Onneung Royal Tomb Construction Office), a World Heritage Document and Treasure, the *Gogeumdongchung* plaque, and the *Onneungji*. Additionally, video presentations visualizing Onneung are intended to provide a more vivid understanding of the exhibition's content.
A museum official stated, "This exhibition was planned to view Queen Dangyeong not as a figure of misfortune, but as someone who proved the value of life through her own choices and integrity," adding, "We hope this serves as an opportunity for visitors to discover the meaning of 'solid time' that exists beyond 'shortness.'"
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