The War Childhood Museum’s traveling exhibition, “Childhood Under Siege”, has officially opened at the Jeju April 3 Peace Memorial Hall on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. Following a highly successful run at the Seoul Museum of History earlier this year, where it attracted over 100,000 visitors, the exhibition has now made its way to Jeju.
Co-organized by the Jeju April 3 Peace Foundation, the Seoul Museum of History, and the War Childhood Museum, the exhibition focuses on the besieged city of Sarajevo during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995. Titled “Childhood Under the Siege: Sarajevo 1992-1995”, it features 37 exhibits and stories, along with ten video testimonies from individuals who grew up during the siege. A dedicated section of the exhibition also highlights the experiences of children from other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Kim Jong-min, Chairperson of the Jeju April 3 Peace Foundation, commented: “The recovery journey of children overcoming the pain of war resonated deeply with the childhood experiences of Jeju April 3 survivors.” Jeju Island itself is a site of historical trauma; the Jeju April 3 Incident from 1947 to 1954 resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, including children, leaving an indelible mark on the island’s collective memory.
In addition to personal stories, the exhibition includes an interactive installation inspired by the War Childhood Museum’s permanent exhibition in Sarajevo. Visitors can engage in activities such as tying ribbons, placing stickers, drawing, and playing with LEGO bricks. These elements, combined with carefully chosen scents and sounds, evoke a sense of nostalgia and connection to childhood. QR codes throughout the exhibition provide access to audio versions of the stories in Korean, making the experience accessible to local audiences.
Ivana Roso, the War Childhood Museum’s Exhibition Coordinator, said: “This exhibition reflects on how war shaped the childhoods of an entire generation. The objects, memories, and voices of children from Bosnia and Herzegovina remind us that children, often overlooked in war narratives, are among its most vulnerable victims. At the same time, they demonstrate remarkable resilience and strength – overcoming trauma, imagining a better future, and envisioning a world free of violence.”
The exhibition will remain open to the public until May 6, 2025.
