Museums and galleries in South Korea

Top Museums & Galleries

South Korea’s museum landscape spans ancient history at the National Museum of Korea to avant-garde media at the Nam June-Paik Art Center. This collection includes the Gyeongbokgung-based National Folk Museum, dedicated to traditional life, and the War Memorial of Korea, documenting military history in Yongsan. Specialized sites like the Osulloc Tea Museum and the 5.18 Gwangju Democratic Movement Archives offer deep dives into tea culture and modern political history, while the Trick Eye and Teddy Bear museums provide interactive, themed exhibits.

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National Museum of Korea

The National Museum of Korea is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea.

d. FUKA / CC BY-SA 2.0

The War Memorial of Korea

The War Memorial of Korea is a museum located in Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Trick Eye Museum

Definitely not your usual museum - the art pieces here really come to life and make for a unique experience.

Appleby / CC BY-SA 2.0

National Folk Museum of Korea

National Folk Museum of Korea is a national museum located on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Sarawut Paspanthong / CC-BY-SA

Hello Kitty Island

A special place for all the Hello Kitty lovers out there, it offers a three levels of exhibition all related to the famous character.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Osulloc Tea Museum

Osulloc Tea Museum, opened in 2001, is aiming to educate tourists and tea-lovers alike about the history and art of tea tradition in Korea.

Yunji Kim / CC BY-SA 3.0

Busan City Art Museum

Contemporary art hub in Haeundae featuring five floors of exhibition space and an outdoor sculpture park. It includes the Space Lee Ufan, a dedicated gallery showcasing minimalist works by the renowned Korean artist.

HanKooKin / CC BY-SA 3.0

Nam June-Paik Art Center

Dedicated to the pioneer of video art, this center in Yongin houses a collection of Nam June Paik’s experimental media installations and archival materials. The glass building serves as a permanent research and exhibition space for his technological artworks.