Starting Dec. 9, Nexon Company (NXC) is presenting its first “Pop-up Museum” project, a collection of arcade and game consoles, and old personal computers, at Jeju Halla College, Jeju City, until Jan. 8, 2012.
“Pop-up Museum” is NXC’s project to display digital content-related exhibitions at various locations in Korea.
This collection of arcade and game consoles is the first exhibition in their “Pop-up Museum” series, designed to advocate that the gaming industry is not only entertainment, but also as a comprehensive art form and culture.
On Dec. 9, during its opening ceremony, more than 30 people attended, including Jeju Halla College President Lee Jung Moo, Halla Art Hall Director Kim Dong Man, and NXC Director Kim Mi Jung.
“This exhibition is prepared to share the positive value of games, which we found out through the exhibition in Busan, with all Jeju residents and visitors,” said NXC Director Kim Mi Jung. “I hope it becomes a place for all couples and families to share their memories and enjoy.”
It will be open from noon to 8 p.m., and will be closed every Monday.
“I think Nexon is presenting this exhibition to advertise games. It might have a good influence on those who don’t like games much. Also for me, it was nice to see many games that I once had,” said Kang Seung Min, a freshman attending Jeju Halla College.
From Magnavox Odyssey, the world’s first home video game console released in 1972, Galaga, released in 1981 by Namco, to the Crazy Racing Kart Rider arcade game, released in 2007, there are plenty of games for visitors to return to their childhoods.
“I knew these games existed, but I didn’t even get to play these games when I was younger. It reminds me of the old times,” said Choi Hyung Gon, 55.
“It’s just great! I used to play these games when I was in high school,” said Lee Jun Ho, 47, as he enthusiastically played an arcade game.
About 15 different traditional arcade games, roughly 30 game consoles, and 20 portable game consoles with various game titles were collected for the exhibition, along with computers from 70s and 80s.
For non-Koreans, English subtitles for all items are offered.
Meanwhile, the contents of the exhibition will be a part of NXC’s permanent exhibition at the first digital museum to be built in Nohyung, Jeju City, in 2012.
<Angela Kim angelakim@jejuweekly.com ⓒ Jeju Weekly All rights reserved>
