National Museum of Korea
Explore Korean history through artifacts including everyday tools, Buddhist art and ceramics from different periods.
Why choose this place
For comparing periods of Korean history: choose everyday objects, ceramics or Buddhist art as your way into the past.
Make the most of your visit
Choose an era or theme rather than trying to see everything at once. Rest in the outdoor gardens afterward.
Stories from the record
A museum with many former homes
After liberation, the national museum occupied several sites, including Gyeongbokgung, Namsan and Deoksugung. Old objects do not necessarily have an equally old permanent museum home. Providing space to protect them is itself modern history.
A new beginning in Yongsan
The new Yongsan museum opened in 2005, bringing exhibition, research, conservation and education into a larger purpose-built setting. Explore courtyards and gardens as well as galleries to understand how heritage is shared with visitors.
Spend time with one object
Instead of racing through every gallery, choose one object. Read about its date, material and use, then look again. Museums reveal the lives of makers and users, not simply the monetary value of treasures.
Sources
Before you go
Opening hours and closing days can change, so check the official information before visiting.