Jinan Scissors Museum, Born from Goryeo Iron Scissors Found at the Yongdam Dam Reservoir Site

Why Five Iron Scissors from Sucheon-ri Became a Museum on December 9, 2016

The starting point of the Jinan Scissors Museum was an excavation conducted before the completion of Yongdam Dam in 2001. Five iron scissors from the Goryeo period were excavated from an ancient tomb in Sucheon-ri, Yongdam-myeon, an area scheduled to be submerged, and Jinan County created a museum centered on scissors בעקבות this discovery. The museum opened on December 9, 2016, and has been directly operated by Jinan County since 2018.

Jinan is a highland area on the boundary between the Sobaeksan and Noryeongsan mountain ranges, and the construction of Yongdam Dam provided an opportunity to investigate and preserve the archaeological and living heritage of the area to be submerged. The key artifacts here, the iron scissors from Sucheon-ri, go beyond being simple household tools; they represent a case in which local cultural properties excavated before dam construction were connected to an exhibition narrative.

Viewing Order: Sucheon-ri Scissors and Roman and Medieval Western Scissors on the First Floor

The exhibition is arranged across two floors. The first floor displays Western scissors from the Roman and medieval periods, Eastern scissors showing changes over time, and the Sucheon-ri scissors excavated in Jinan. Since physical exhibits and video materials are presented together, visitors can compare how scissors developed as cutting tools.

In particular, viewing the Sucheon-ri artifacts first and then comparing the Eastern and Western scissors makes the exhibition flow clearer. The collection comprises approximately 1,500 rare scissors from East and West, and the official recommended viewing time is about 30 minutes. Visitors who read the explanations and examine the specialized scissors in detail should allow around 45 minutes.

The Differentiation of Everyday Technologies Shown by Medical, Tailoring, and Jewelry-Making Scissors on the Second Floor

The second floor focuses on scissors by purpose. Specialized scissors for medical use and jewelry making, as well as scissors for hairdressing and beauty care, kitchens, tools, tailoring, and stationery, are displayed, along with everyday scissors and related accessories. Visitors can see that even when they are all called “scissors,” blade length, handle structure, and tip shape vary depending on the task.

Because the exhibition rooms are not on the scale of a large comprehensive museum, they are better suited to visitors interested in social history, craft tools, and industrial design than to those expecting an extended hands-on program. Reviews published in 2025 repeatedly noted that although the museum is small, its exhibits are varied and closely arranged, and that it is a good indoor itinerary for avoiding rain or cold weather.

Open 09:00–18:00; Closed on Mondays, Lunar New Year's Day, and Chuseok Day

Official visiting hours are 09:00–18:00 every day. The museum is closed every Monday, January 1, Lunar New Year's Day, and Chuseok Day. Hours may change when a public holiday falls on a Monday or when special exhibitions or events are scheduled, so it is advisable to confirm whether the museum is open before departure by calling 063-430-8744~5 or 063-430-2324.

Admission is free, and the official website is https://www.jinan.go.kr/scissormuseum/. Although tourism data lists the site as a place where credit cards cannot be used, there is no need for payment on site because admission is free. Costs for souvenirs and nearby meals are separate, however, so bringing a card or a small amount of cash is recommended.

• Address: 258 Maisan-ro, Jinan-eup, Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province
• Postal code: 55438
• Recommended viewing time: Approximately 30 minutes
• Admission: Free

Leave Your Car at Maisan North Parking Lot and Combine It with a Northern Jinan-eup Itinerary

The museum is in the northern Maisan area, making it convenient to visit together with the Maisan North Parking Lot. Parking is available, and tourist information recommends using the Maisan North Parking Lot. If arriving by car, set “Jinan Scissors Museum” or the road-name address as the navigation destination.

For public transportation, a practical approach is to use Jinan Intercity Bus Terminal as your base and check on the day of departure whether local buses to Maisan are operating and what their schedules are. Bus frequencies and stop information can change frequently, so rather than relying on a specific route, reconfirm the details through Jinan County transportation information or by calling the museum. If you plan to walk in the northern Maisan area, you can make this a half-day itinerary by allowing 30 minutes for the museum, plus time for meals and travel in the northern area.

Accessibility Features to Check: Gentle Ramps, Wheelchair Rental, and Braille Information Boards

Barrier-free tourism information states that a gentle ramp is installed up to the main entrance and that wheelchair access is possible through the ramp. However, the entrance door is manually operated, so it is better to visit with a companion rather than traveling alone, or to request staff assistance before arrival.

Wheelchairs can be rented on site, and an accessible restroom and Braille information boards are available. Since stroller rental is not listed as a provided service, visitors with infants or young children should bring their own stroller. Whether foreign-language information is available is not confirmed in the official information, so visitors who need it should inquire by phone before visiting.

• Wheelchair rental: Available
• Stroller rental: Unavailable
• Accessible restroom: Available
• Braille information board: Available

Three Places Not to Miss When Connecting with the Northern Maisan Area

The Scissors Museum is presented together with northern-area attractions such as Maisan, Maisan Taps, Maisan Provincial Park, Tappingje Reservoir, Maisan Master Craftsmen and Luxury Goods Hall, and the Red Ginseng and Traditional Medicine Center. Since the museum itself takes about 30 minutes to visit, an efficient plan is to see the indoor exhibition in the morning and continue with an outdoor Maisan itinerary, or reverse the order on a rainy day.

A full-scale climb of Maisan is different in nature from a museum visit. The museum centers on level indoor viewing, while exploring Maisan requires consideration of stairs, uphill sections, and weather conditions. Visitors with limited mobility and families with young children may find it better to combine only the Scissors Museum and the area around the North Parking Lot, planning the hiking section separately according to their physical ability.