Gwangju Joseon Royal Kiln Museum is located in the city of Gwangju, the home of the royal kilns that were established by the Joseon dynasty and operated for 400 years. Its collection focuses exclusively on ceramics, and the museum is involved in activities such as the study of Korean traditional ceramics, including white porcelain from the Joseon dynasty, excavation of kiln artifacts, academics, research, and instruction of traditional ceramic culture. Every other year the Museum holds a competition on traditional ceramic work, named “Beautiful Korean ceramics”, for the aim of contributing to the growth and development of traditional Korean pottery. The competition is able to showcase beautiful Korean ceramic art that is attuned to modern Korean trends.

The museum consists of two main exhibition halls, one special exhibition hall, and one multi-purpose hall, as well as a large outdoor sculpture park, a Korean traditional garden, a tea house, a ceramics shopping mall that sells works from the Gwangju area, and other incidental facilities.

Gwangju Joseon Royal Kiln Museum has in store in its permanent collection traditional ceramic art such as pure white porcelain, Iron crushed white porcelain, and Buncheong wares, produced at the kilns of the Joseon Era, and which have instilled within the 500 year history of Joseon dynasty. The museum’s permanent collection also consists of works by contemporary ceramists that have inherited that tradition. Through the special exhibitions that highlight the culture and history of traditional Korean ceramics, one may come into touch with the traditions of Korean ceramics still very much alive today.