Explore the National Museum of Korea: A Visitor's Guide

As a museum enthusiast, visiting museums is always a priority when traveling. During my trip to Seoul, I made sure to visit the National Museum of Korea. The museum is free to enter and does not require reservations, allowing visitors to come and go as they please. Here are some tips for your visit: - Take subway line 4 to Ichon Station and exit at gate 2. - Opening hours are Monday (not closed), Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Wednesday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. - Chinese language tours are available at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, except on Saturdays, with only a 1:00 PM tour on Sundays. The tour guide, a Korean lady, uses an iPad to show additional images during the 50-minute tour, which is worth attending. Make sure to download the 'National Museum of Korea' app and Papago. The former provides maps of each exhibition hall, with introductions and important exhibits available in text and audio in Chinese. Papago can translate Korean descriptions into Chinese. From July 10 to September 22, there is a special exhibition titled 'Three Kingdoms, Three Colors - Lacquerware in East Asia,' which is a joint exhibition with the National Museums of Korea, Japan, and China. The entrance fee is 5,000 KRW for adults and 3,000 KRW for children. The museum has three floors and nine galleries, plus an outdoor exhibition area: - **1st Floor:** - Prehistoric and Ancient History Gallery: From the Paleolithic era to the Balhae period, with over 10,000 artifacts in 11 rooms (some parts are closed for adjustments from July 1 to December 16). - Medieval and Early Modern History Gallery: From the Goryeo era to the Republic of Korea, with over 900 artifacts in 8 rooms. - The Path of History: A long corridor displaying Korea's earliest marble pagoda and other significant artifacts. - Digital Immersive Video Experience Hall: Did not have time to visit, but it seems worth exploring. - **2nd Floor:** - Thought Hall: Home to two half-seated thinking statues. - Painting and Calligraphy Hall: Includes two painting rooms, a Buddhist painting room (currently closed), and a wood lacquer craft room. - Donation Hall: Four rooms displaying donated artifacts. - **3rd Floor:** - World Culture Gallery: Six galleries featuring Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome, Central Asia, India and Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. - Sculpture and Craft Gallery: Six rooms with over 600 items, including Buddhist sculptures, metal crafts, and ceramics. The museum is modern and well-equipped, featuring a gift shop, restaurant, café, theater, library, and children's museum. I spent from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM there, only managing a quick overview, and didn't have time to explore the outdoor garden. For more detailed information on important exhibits, stay tuned for the next article. #Korea #KoreaTravel #Museum #MustVisitMuseum #WorldTravel #KoreaAdventure