The article, penned by Lee Byung-hoon, an honorary professor at Jeonbuk National University, addresses a pressing issue regarding the lack of a national natural history museum in South Korea. This institution is critical globally for the research, education, and conservation of biodiversity, as it serves as a repository for biological, fossil, and mineral specimens. In contrast to Korea's situation, over a thousand natural history museums operate in the United States and more than 200 in Europe, many of which are national institutions, reflecting their importance in environmental education and research.

The piece emphasizes the historical significance and expansive collections of renowned museums, such as the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., and its European counterparts. These institutions not only preserve millions of specimens that chronicle Earth's biological history but also serve as vital resources for understanding evolution and ecological systems. The historical context underlies the evolution of biodiversity and household names in conservation efforts, like the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which both aim to address the degradation of the global environment and the extinction of species.

The author argues for the establishment of a national natural history museum in Korea, pointing out that having such an institution could enhance educational initiatives and public awareness regarding the significance of biodiversity. There is also a call to action for greater efforts in research and conservation, showing the interconnectedness of ecological health and human existence. The absence of such an essential institution is seen not merely as a gap in public scientific education but as a missed opportunity for advancing Korea's role in global environmental stewardship.