Culture - Korea travel information

Kyobo Book Centre Gwanghwamun (교보문고)

Kyobo Book Centre Gwanghwamun (교보문고)

2024-12-04

1 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
02-3295-0312

Kyobo Book Centre is the first large-scale bookstore in Korea, and this particular store can be found next to Gwanghwamun Square. Kyobo Book Centre Gwanghwamun divides its internal area into 11 sections and organizes them in a way that allows readers to find books easily. The store also has specialized shops for stationery, digital devices, and accessories, as well as exhibition spaces and cafés.

Kumho Museum of Art (금호미술관)

Kumho Museum of Art (금호미술관)

2020-06-11

18, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-720-5114

The Kumho Museum of Art was opened to celebrate the diversity of art. The museum displays new pieces of art from promising new artists and accomplished artists every year. The museum first opened its doors in Gwanhun-dong in 1989, but moved to a larger area in 1996 where it stands today. The Kumho Museum of Art stands on the east side of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The museum is surrounded by other cultural and folk museums. The B1 floor features artwork of new artists while the 1st and 2nd floors feature project exhibitions and invitation exhibits. About once a year foreign artists are invited to display their art in the museum. There are official invitation exhibitions of seven artists yearly. These are artists who have strongly influenced Korean art. On the 3rd floor of the museum is a small concert hall, also known as Kumho Recital Hall. Although the capacity is only 171 people, all concerts are executed with professional care. On the 1st floor there is a coffee shop and an art shop. The coffee shop and art shop remain open on days the museum is closed.

Ilmin Art Museum (일민미술관)

Ilmin Art Museum (일민미술관)

2022-09-27

152, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Ilmin Art Museum located in former Dong-A Newspaper Building, was formed in honor of their honorable and late CEO Kim Sang-man. The museum was established in December of 1996, and with a full renovation in 2001, large exhibition hall and Ilmin collection was placed in. Through the renovation, the combination of glass and steel made Artrium aimed to become one of the best comtemporary museum, connecting the museum to the streets of Gwanghwamun. 

 This museum boasts a large Ilmin collection. There are 430 pieces of Ilmin collection from Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) to present, 1,200 pieces in the Donga Newspaper's collection of art, and 100 pieces of art owned by Hyundai Corporation. The Ilmin Collection mostly consists of pieces that Kim Sang-man collected from ceramics to aesthetic paintings. The Dongah Newspaper's collection has time-relevant pieces that are important in history.

Sungkok Art Museum (성곡미술관)

Sungkok Art Museum (성곡미술관)

2021-02-10

42, Gyeonghuigung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-737-7650

Sungkok Art Museum was founded in 1995 by the Korean corporation Ssangyong to promote Korean art. The gallery offers a special exhibition featuring modern artworks of Korean artists, as well as competitions and sponsorships to develop Korean art. In addition to the main building, there is an annex, as well as a tea house and art shop.

Lotte World Folk Museum (롯데월드 민속박물관)

Lotte World Folk Museum (롯데월드 민속박물관)

2024-03-12

240, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
+82-2-411-4762

Lotte World Folk Museum, located within Lotte World, is a museum showcasing the ancient lifestyles of Korea. It exhibits artifacts from the prehistoric era to the Japanese colonial period, divided by historical eras. Particularly noteworthy is the miniature village, featuring over two thousand dolls at a scale of 1:8, depicting various aspects of life during the Joseon dynasty, including the four seasons, seasonal customs, four ceremonial occasions, and the lives of the yangban and commoners with remarkable realism.

Universal Arts Center (유니버설아트센터)

Universal Arts Center (유니버설아트센터)

2024-03-19

664 Cheonho-daero, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul

Universal Arts Center, inaugurated in 1981, stands as a prominent venue for performances. Renowned for its splendid and classic architectural interior, it is celebrated for its distinctiveness. Its main facilities include the Grand Theater, the Luna Hall capable of accommodating up to 300 guests for banquets, and an audience lounge. It serves as a harmonious space where performance venues, artistic community, and art educational institutions converge. Here, visitors can enjoy a diverse array of performances ranging from ballet and musicals to concerts.

Gana Art Center (가나아트센터)

Gana Art Center (가나아트센터)

2024-03-18

28 Pyeongchang 30-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Gana Art Center located at the foothills of Bukhansan Mountain has been showcasing more than 300 exhibitions since its opening in 1983. Through both national and international exhibitions, the Gana Art Center is a recognized gellery. With numerous fairs and exhibitions, Gana Art Center not only invite internationally known artists, but also promotes other forms of art, such as music, theater, mime, etc. Through their flexibility in promoting all art forms, the visitors will surely be able to find the theme of their interest.

Teddy Bear Museum Jeju (테디베어뮤지엄제주)

Teddy Bear Museum Jeju (테디베어뮤지엄제주)

2025-03-15

31 Jungmungwangwang-ro 110beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-738-7600

Teddy Bear Museum Jeju is a themed museum dedicated to teddy bears. It showcases rare teddy bears collected from around the world and also introduces the history of humanity in the 20th century. The adorable teddy bears make it popular among children. Visitors can enjoy performances by Elvis Teddy at the Elvis Theater every 15 minutes. There are also outdoor gardens, a souvenir shop, and a café available.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon [MMCA Gwacheon] (국립현대미술관 (과천관))

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon [MMCA Gwacheon] (국립현대미술관 (과천관))

2021-05-21

313, Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-2-2188-6000

Located in beautiful Gwacheon, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon displays works by Korean and international modern artists, as well as works by contemporary artists currently making waves in the art world. As well as its permanent collection, the museum generally presents several special exhibitions. The museum also provides various programs and events for visitors to enjoy.

Ho-Am Art Museum (호암미술관)

2022-12-20

38, Everland-ro 562beon-gil, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-320-1801

Located inside Everland amusement park, Ho-Am Art Museum is a popular destination for tourists who desire to enjoy a theme park and artwork at the same time. The art gallery is available on the second floor of a traditional hanok building, showcasing artwork from the pre-historic age to contemporary era. About 100 of Korea’s national treasures are on display along with Buddhist art, calligraphy, folk paintings, ceramics and other various pieces.