The Joseon royal craft “Banhwa” (盤花), restored with the support of the global luxury beauty brand Sulwhasoo, will be unveiled to the public for the first time in Korea. The unveiling will take place through the special exhibition “Gifts and Records: 140 Years of Korea-France Friendship,” commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. The exhibition will open simultaneously on June 3 at the National Palace Museum of Korea and the Deoksugung Palace Management Office.

This public unveiling is the culmination of Sulwhasoo’s ongoing support for the restoration and transmission of royal cultural heritage, carried out in partnership with the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Cultural Heritage Administration and the National Palace Museum of Korea. The showcase holds deep significance as it recreates and introduces a royal treasure that has been housed abroad and rarely seen in Korea.

Banhwa, which translates to “flowers on a plate,” is a Joseon royal bonsai craft. In 1886, King Gojong (reign 1864–1907) sent it as a diplomatic gift to French President Marie François Sadi Carnot to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Joseon Dynasty and France. While the original masterpiece is currently preserved at the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in France, it is a complex artifact blending precious gems, metals, and woodwork, making international transport highly difficult. Consequently, this public viewing in Korea was made possible through a meticulous restoration and reproduction process.

Through an agreement signed in 2024 for the preservation and utilization of royal cultural heritage, Sulwhasoo supported the restoration of Banhwa. The reproduction was crafted by Kim Young-hee, a holder of National Invisible Cultural Heritage No. 100 (Jade Carving, Okjang), who successfully revived the piece using traditional techniques.

The completed restored works have been donated to the National Palace Museum of Korea and the Deoksugung Palace Management Office, respectively, to be presented to the public through this special exhibition. At the National Palace Museum’s Special Exhibition Hall I, an exhibition running from June 3 to August 2 will highlight the diplomatic history between Korea and France through the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation (1886) and exchange of diplomatic gifts. Concurrently, Deoksugung’s Dondeokjeon will host the exhibition “Banhwa, an Auspicious Mind” from June 3 to August 30, focusing deeply on the symbolic meaning and production techniques of the craft.

A Sulwhasoo representative stated, “The restoration and inaugural Korean unveiling of Banhwa is a meaningful example of modernly reviving the beauty and historical value of Joseon royal cultural heritage. Moving forward, we will continue our initiatives to preserve, inherit, and expand the value of traditional Korean culture.”

Grounded in deep respect for traditional Korean culture, Sulwhasoo continues its social contribution activities—including the restoration of cultural heritage and sponsorship of the arts—dedicated to sharing the essence of Korean beauty with the global community.