Spice up your exciting trip in Seoul by stopping by some of the most enchanting galleries and museums in the city. This incredibly artsy city is also home to some of the most stylish spaces where you can appreciate and enjoy art. With more than 100 museums all around the city, there is definitely one that will suit your preferences. Here are some of the cities best!
National Museum of Korea
First opened in 1945, the National Museum of Korea is located in the heat of the city and is home to over 220,000 collections that reflect and depict the stunning span of history in the region. It can get difficult to attempt to see everything in one visit so the best advice: decide what you want to see before you enter! Each floor represents different points in time and is the perfect marker of what to see. Beyond the impressive relics housed here, the museum also hosts many programs for children and ones related to culture.
Address: Yongsan-dong 6-ga 168-6 (Seobinggo-ro 137), Yongsan-gu
Seoul Museum of Art
One of the city’s leading art venues, Seoul Museum of Art, was first established in 1988 and is located behind one of Seoul’s grand palaces, Deoksugung. Currently occupying the old Korean Supreme Court building, this museum's main objective is to make art accessible and affordable. Here, you can find public classes focusing on Korean traditional arts and even lecture programs offered for all in English and Korean! Stop by for a quick lesson on art and its impact on the country!
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Housing five different halls in one location, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, is the most in-trend place where local and young creatives are able to have a platform. Here, you can explore and enjoy the Art Hall, Museum, Design Lab, Design Market and the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park on your own time. This stunning architecture is also designed by world-renowned architect, Zaha Hadid and even from the outside, this building’s magnificence will wow you. One of the halls, the Design Lab, is also open 24 hours for the guests who find inspiration at wild hours of the night!
National Folk Museum of Korea
Always wanted to learn about Korean history but not too sure where to start? The National Folk Museum of Korea is the perfect go-to place and is located within the premises of Gyeongbukgung palace. With over 98,000 relics sitting within, the museum is dedicated to displaying the traditional life of the Koreans from before time until today. There are also a number of open-air exhibits in the area, including the famous replicas of spirit posts which villagers used to pray to in hopes of preventing calamity and a successful harvest.
War Memorial of Korea
Dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of items related to the Korean War, the War Memorial of Korea, is a national moral educational venue established in 1994. With six separate indoor halls, each specialising in a different part of the war, you can learn more about the impact of the war on the people and the national. This includes a Memorial Hall which pays tribute to the lost lives, a War Room where weapons are displayed and even a Combat Experience Room which was recreated to showcase a Korean night full of battle. There are also 20 different educational programs which both children and adults can partake in like military music, cultural events and more.
