There’s plenty to look forward to when visiting the city of Seoul, South Korea. Its booming entertainment scene, for one, thanks to the massive forces that are K-pop and K-dramas. Buzzy pop-ups and conceptual stores are dotted throughout the city’s charming enclaves, belonging to the nation’s coolest beauty and fashion brands. Then there’s the dining scene, from the street food found in tented roadside pochas and traditional markets, to the city’s eclectic cafes and vibrant fine-dining offerings. It’s a city where tradition and innovation exist side-by-side—quite literally, as rows of hanoks and majestic palaces sit amidst skyscrapers and modern technological marvels.
If you’re seeking to gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture, there’s no better place to do so than the city’s many museums. Seoul has one of Asia’s most dynamic art scenes—evident in events such as the rising international art fair Frieze Seoul—and this certainly comes through in the city’s various art museums, which spotlight everything from photography to traditional craft. Beyond that, get a glimpse of Korea’s rich culture through exhibitions dedicated to its history and its food. For those planning a trip to the Korean capital, we round up the best museums to visit whilst in Seoul.
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Seoul Museum of Craft Art
While crafts like embroidery or metalwork might not have been as recognised as fine art mediums, the Seoul Museum of Craft Art seeks to change this. Housed in what was previously Pungmoon Girls’ High School, the museum shines a spotlight on Korean crafts both traditional and contemporary. From embroidery to ceramics, a wide range of mediums showcase the technical, creative, practical and cultural value of craft.
Seoul Museum of Craft Art, 4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
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National Museum of Korea
This behemoth of a museum is the one to visit if you can only spare the time for one. With over 13,000 works on display at any given time, it spans three floors, delving into the many facets of Korean history, culture and art. Within its premises, you’ll also find immersive digital spaces, a children’s museum full of multi-sensory interactive experiences and expansive outdoor grounds.
National Museum of Korea, 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04383
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Museum Kimchikan
A side dish consisting of salted and fermented vegetables, kimchi is a quintessential part of Korean culture—a staple in its cuisine since the first century. Nestled amidst the teahouses and traditional craft shops of Insadong, Museum Kimchichan is where you can learn all about the dish, from its evolution through the years to the communal nature of its preparation. Sample different kimchi varieties, discover all the ways it can be used in cooking, and try your hand at making the dish on your own in the museum’s short kimchi-making workshops.
Museum Kimchikan, 35-4 Insadong-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
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Museum Hanmi
A must-visit for photography enthusiasts, Museum Hanmi was founded in 2003 with the intention to develop domestic photography and revitalise it as an art form—although its curation has expanded to also include works of new media. A vast collection of more than 20,000 film rolls and prints are housed here, with a cold-storage space in the facility to ensure that vintage photographic prints are well preserved.
Museum Hanmi, 45, Samcheong-ro 9-gil, Jongro-gu, Seoul
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Leeum Museum of Art
Known for being one of the best private museums in South Korea, you’ll find two distinct types of art at the Leeum Museum of Art. The first building features a collection of traditional Korean art—including calligraphy, ceramics and metal craftwork—of which 36 pieces are designated national treasures. The second houses modern art from both Korean and international artists, a clear contrast to the museum’s traditional counterpart to illustrate the new mediums and styles that contemporary art today is evolving towards.
Leeum Museum of Art, 60-16, Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04348
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Art Sonje Center
Artistic innovation and cultural diversity lies at the heart of Seoul’s Art Sonje Center—which focuses on introducing international art to Korean audiences, as well as growing Korean art on a global scale. Situated in Samcheong-dong, a neighborhood filled with buzzy art galleries, cafes and boutiques, the museum is known for its diverse range of arts programs—from exhibitions and performances to screenings and talks.
Art Sonje Center, 87 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
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Amorepacific Museum of Art
What started as the private art collection of Amorepacific founder Sungwhan Suh is now the Amorepacific Museum of Art. Located in the architectural wonder that is the new Amorepacific headquarters, the museum houses art both traditional and contemporary—many of which relate to beauty and fashion. In the same building, you’ll also find a library dedicated to over 10,000 catalogues of exhibitions worldwide.
Amorepacific Museum of Art, 100 Hangang-daero, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
