National Museum of Korea

Day 2 at the museum and I have barely scratched the surface. I am still in awe of what is available to see in the permanent collection. Cost is free for the permanent collection. Access is quick for those without a bag, a little slower for those with a bag. There is a cafe inside the museum outside of security and 2 other places outside of museum building itself.

I traveled from NYC specifically to see the Impressionism exhibition at the National Museum of Korea in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and it absolutely lived up to the journey. Seeing works connected to the Met presented in Seoul felt incredibly special and thoughtfully curated. What moved me just as much, though, were the Korean history galleries. Each exhibit is presented with such detail and reverence that I found myself stopping often to reflect. The exhibition on Yi Sun-sin was especially powerful. I appreciated how it explored not only his achievements as a respected admiral, but also his humanity. It felt balanced, reflective, and deeply meaningful. I also loved spending time in the typography and print sections. As someone who appreciates visual storytelling and design, seeing the evolution of written form and print culture was inspiring. The museum itself is clean, beautifully laid out, and very foreigner friendly. The overall energy feels calm, intentional, and elevated. And the museum shop is honestly one of the best I have ever experienced anywhere in the world. The curation, design objects, and gifts are exceptional. If you are visiting Seoul, this museum is an absolute must. It is world class in every sense.

National Museum of Korea is an absolute gem. I honestly can’t believe the admission is free for such a high-quality experience; the maintenance and presentation are incredible. There are so many things to see, from ancient artifacts to beautiful Buddhist art. The museum is massive, so I highly recommend sparing a day or two to really take it all in. Whether you are a history buff or just appreciate beautiful design, this is a must visit in Seoul!

I really enjoyed the National Museum of Korea and it was excellent plus the admission was free. The museum has three floors with a wide variety of exhibits and you’ll likely need at least two to three hours to explore it properly. It’s a great place to visit, especially if you want to learn more about Korean culture.

My first time visiting this new museum (last time was the old one in the 90's) and I was thoroughly impressed. It's really modern and clean. You will see a lot of visual arts and even guide robots. The korean collection throughout the dynasties is quite comprehensive. They have a lot of religious and Buddhist items as well so be sure to check them out. The meditation room is the most famous. Greek and roman items are all copies and subpar so you can skip em. Average collection for other Asian countries and Islam. When we went there they had special exhibition of 이순신 which was free for the day and pretty well curated (i got pretty emotional with seeing his journey again). Lastly they have an amazing museum shop with a lot of pretty and high quality items. The museum has subway entrance tunnel carved out all the way and some nearby bus stops as well. You also get a great view of 남산 and slick architecture of the museum building outside. Come ready to spend hours and walk 15k steps easy.

Was told here has the best gift store. Plenty of storage lockers for your items so you obviously don’t have to bring them through the museum. A lot of the museum was under construction when we came and the main things we were interested in were all under construction at the same time. I didn’t find the prices for that to be worth it and maybe I was overtired from my flight but it was a very plain museum. Stuff was nice but I didn’t find anything worth bringing home for souvenirs. Maybe I am picky. Maybe we didn’t come at the best time of year. Maybe I was overtired. Other people really love it

The museum is designed as a chronological storyline, taking visitors from prehistoric Korea through to modern history (19th century). The use of tech/digital media and lighting enhances the narrative and makes the experience engaging without feeling overwhelming. An excellent place to understand Korea’s cultural evolution in one visit.

eoul’s first permanent Islamic art exhibition features 85 pieces from Qatar’s Museum of Islamic Art, taking visitors through about 1,400 years of Islamic culture, think calligraphy, geometric designs, ceramics, textiles, and architectural details. Honestly, it feels pretty underwhelming. However, other exhibitions were excellent and detailed. Definitely evident of better research and funding. This is whole day outing with the sheer amount of exhibits available. Lockers are available in the museum for easy storage.