South Korea has a lot of culture and history to offer, in Seoul, there are many museums where there is a lot to learn. In this article 5 different museums have been gathered that are worth a visit while you are in Seoul!
1. National Museum of Korea
Location: 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu
Fee: Free, Except for fee-charged special exhibition
You may discover the essence of Korean arts and culture at the National Museum of Korea. The museum blends Korean history, culture, and art, including Paleolithic hand axes, Goryeo dynasty celadons, Joseon dynasty paintings, and contemporary photography. The NMK is hard at work creating a variety of fascinating forthcoming exhibits, supplying docents to provide tours in six different languages, and engaging and instructing children in the Children’s Museum. The museum has a variety of educational programs that are specially tailored to different groups so that knowledge about the many artifacts and historical artifacts is more widely available. You may also take in incredible world-class plays and concerts in the Yong Theater, or you can just relax for the afternoon in the park with lots of trees that are next to the museum.
2. National Folk Museum of Korea
Location: 37 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Fee: Free
Over two million people visit the National Folk Museum of Korea each year, a museum that showcases everyday life and culture in Korea. They offer chances for cultural and educational exchange so that people may learn more about and engage with traditional Korean culture. The National Museum of Anthropology has largely studied and examined Korean folk culture since its founding in 1946. It has also collected, preserved, and displayed Korean folk cultural objects. They have staged both ongoing and one-time exhibitions, produced publications, given lectures, and participated in various public education initiatives over the years. Now, in accordance with the paradigm for museums in the 21st century, which calls for institutions to adopt an open and specialized approach and be more responsive to the public.
3. War Memorial of Korea
Location: 29 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Fee: Free, Excluding exhibitions in rented areas
In order to preserve and commemorate Korea’s military history, the War Memorial of Korea was established in 1994 at the location of the former army headquarters. It was created in anticipation of the hoped-for peaceful unification of North and South Korea as well as to prevent future wars by learning from the Korean War. Six indoor exhibition rooms and an outdoor exhibition center house war artifacts and military hardware from China, South Korea, and the United States in the memorial building. There are 13,000 objects on show in six rooms with a variety of themes, including the outdoor exhibition area, Memorial Hall, War History, Korean War, Expeditionary Forces, ROK Armed Forces, and Large Equipment. Weapons and equipment from ancient times to the present are shown, along with paintings of combat scenes, statues of famous fighters, and a statue of An Jung-Geun, who was responsible for the 1909 assassination of a previous resident general in Manchuria. On the lawns around the building, there are about 100 huge weapons on display in the outdoor exhibition area.
4. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul
Location: 30 Samcheong-ro 5-Gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Fee: KRW 4,000, Individuals under 24 or over 65 are free, and Undergraduate students free
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Korea, has witnessed the development of Korean art since it first opened its doors in 1969. Through this method, MMCA came to be recognized as a leading institution for Korean contemporary art. Each of the museum’s four branches—Gwacheon (1986), Deoksugung (1998), Seoul (2013), and Cheongju (anticipated to open in 2017)—will continue to carry out MMCA’s dedication to Korean art and culture by enhancing the viewing public’s first-hand cultural experience. The MMCA Gwacheon is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery and will focus on a variety of visual arts disciplines, including architecture, design, and crafts.
5. Leeum Art Museum
Location: 60-16 Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Fee: Free, Except for fee-charged special exhibition
The largest private art gallery is Leeum, which was established by the Samsung Foundation in 2004. The word “Leeum” is a combination of the word “museum” and the last name of the founder of Samsung. As soon as you go through the door, you’ll be startled to see the large spider, which is regarded as the museum’s symbol. It is “Maman,” a work by Louise Bourgeois, and it costs roughly 10 billion won. The three architectural structures that make up the Leeum are well-known. Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas, three distinct eminent architects, constructed each building. It’s also a highly uncommon opportunity to visit all of these prominent architects’ structures in one location. Various works of traditional and modern Korean art as well as contemporary works from across the world are on display at Leeum. In Leeum, your eyes will never be bored.
