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“View the History of Bicycles at a glance.” Korea’s first Sangju
Bicycle Museum has become a local landmark. Bicycle Museum
was established on October 26, 2002 at a 500㎡ old school site in
Namjang-dong. About 15,000 people have visited this place
so far, and 500-600 people come here daily on weekends and holidays.
A bicycle with a small and a large wheel stands in front of
the building to indicate the Bicycle Museum. The 453㎡ museum
exhibits a total of 40 different types of bicycle. This includes
7 old types of bicycle, including the wooden bicycles, about 20
different types of bizarre-looking bicycle, and 10 types of modern
bicycle. The exhibition also includes six experience units,
such as“Bicycle Power Generator” and “Bicycle Seesaw,” in which
you can actually ride the bicycle.
 You
can also encounter Sangju City’s original bronze bicycle as well
as the souvenir shop. (About 30 bicycles at the exhibition
show the history of bicycles at a glance. The wooden bicycle
from Germany (1813) is already the most popular item in the exhibition.
The primitive form of bicycle had its wheels attached to a
wooden horse and was registered as “Draisine” in France five years
after its invention. Sangju City implemented a thorough investigation
to restore this bicycle.)
Other unique bicycles include the
electric bicycle, art bicycle with various decorations on chrome-plated
wheels, World Cup bicycle with soccer ball wheels, and Monkey bicycle
that is about 50㎝ in length and height.
People in Sangju own
85,000 bicycles, which represent about two bicycles per household.
This is four times the average number of bicycles per household
in Korea (0.5 bicycle). In Downtown Sangju, each household
has 3-4 bicycles. Sangju has been holding “National Bicycle
Festival” every October since 1999 to encourage bicycle riding
while introducing the city to the world.
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