Museums
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Buyeo National Museum
Buyeo National Museum is in Buyeo-eup, the capital of Buyeo County and is within easy walking distance other cultural heritage sites, such as Gungnamji Pond, Jeongnimsa Temple and Jeongnimsari Museum. It is a relatively small museum, but it is jam packed full of interesting artefacts found in the area. Around half of the museum is devoted to Baekje pieces, as Buyeo was the capital during the Baekje Kingdom Sabi period (538 to 660 CE). The museum has four main halls as well as an outside area that houses stele and other stone pieces. The first area focuses on the prehistoric and ancient culture of Buyeo, the period before it was the Baekje Kindgom capital. There are really nice examples of stonework, metalwork, jewellery, pottery and even some very interestingly shaped iron ritual rattles.
The second hall has items that are specific to the Baekje Sabi period and some of these pieces really showcase the beautiful craftmanship of the time, including gold ornaments and the ornate gilt-bronze incense burner of Baekje, which was found at the Neungsan-ri temple site, and which now exists as archaeological remains next to Buyeo Royal Tombs Park. The third hall focuses on Buddhism during the Baekje Kingdom period, displaying many artworks, large and small. This section also introduces different kinds of patterned tiles and has some beautiful examples of bronze work, including an ornate open bronze lid and a miniature pagoda. The fourth and final hall is full of donated items of different periods and geographical locations, including a beautiful collection entitled In Praise of Gifts. The Cobalt Hue in Blue and White Porcelain which showcases 20 Joseon Dynasty pieces that have never before been displayed.
Daegaya Museum can be found in Goryeong at the entrance to the Jisandong Ancient Tombs site, which is one of seven areas that form the 2023 UNESCO World Heritage listing for Gaya Ancient Tombs. The museum has a very unique display relating to sacrificial royal burials, with a focus on excavated tomb 44 which is the biggest of the Jisandong Ancient Tombs and dates to between 500 to 562 BCE. The tomb measured a huge 25 metres by 27 metres and included 32 sacrificial coffins for servants. The main part of the museum is a reconstruction of the tomb, and this takes up most of its space. You can walk around the reconstruction or over the raised walkway to view it from above. There is a display showing the different stages involved in constructing a tomb as well as a display relating to the dress of Gaya peoples. You can also see a number of artefacts recovered from the tomb including pottery, weapons and personal adornments.
Daegaya Museum
Daehan Empire History Museum
The Daehan Empire History Museum is located in the building known as Seokjojeon within the grounds of Deoksugung Palace in Seoul. Seokjojeon is a western style stone built palace that was commissioned by King Gojong, who reigned between 1863 and 1907. It was designed at the end of the nineteenth century by a British architect named John Reginald Harding. Construction began in 1900 and was completed in 1910 - the year when Japanese colonial rule began. The building, as well as the palace and its grounds, underwent various transformations in the years that followed. Seokjojeon was occupied by different groups, has been used as a museum, was subject to an attempted restoration and then finally was restored based on archival research and opened to the public in 2014. It is now a living history museum.
The museum showcases the building and its interior in what is believed to be its original form. Seokjojeon is not open for general access so you must sign up for a guided tour to gain entry. A visitor services guide will walk you through the two floors of the building, focusing on different rooms and then the balcony area, telling stories about items in the rooms, the visitors, the king and the royal family, what was happening in Korea during the various stages of Seokjojeon's use and even the kinds of foods that banquet guests ate. Historical photographs are also displayed throughout the building. Many of the fixtures and fittings are based on what is shown in those and other photographs whilst display panels helpfully illustrate which pieces of furniture are original and which are not. The view from the first floor balcony area gives a great overview of the whole Deoksugung Palace area, reminding visitors of the two very different architectural styles coming together in one place.
Gimhae was a capital during the Gaya Confederacy period (first century BCE to the 6th century CE). It was active at the same time as the Three Kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, but was very different as it was made up of independent city-states that had their own ruler. Due to this history, Gaya is very much the focus of Gimhae National Museum. The permanent exhibition hall has two floors. The first floor focuses on the area before Gaya, from prehistory up to the development of Gaya and then turns to its eventual collapse. The second floor is devoted to Gaya culture, and includes displays on pottery, farming, fishing, trade, grave goods, personal adornments, iron and weapons. There is also an archive space where you can read and watch videos related to Gaya culture. A second building houses special temporary exhibitions and a children's museum. Gimhae can be reached easily from Busan using the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail line.
Gimhae National Museum
Gongju National Museum
Gongju was one of three capitals during the Baekje Kingdom period (18 BC to 660 CE). At that time, it was named Ungjin, and today that phase of the Baekje Kingdom, which dates from 475 to 538 CE, is known as the Ungjin Period. The focus of Gongju National Museum is therefore the Baekje Kingdom, although the museum does hold many artefacts from other periods. The main museum building consists of two exhibition spaces and a children’s learning area. The Chungcheongnam-do History and Culture Hall houses artefacts dating from the Palaeolithic through to the Joseon Dynasty, with much of the exhibition focusing on conflict and finds recovered from the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gongsanseong Fortress. There is also a separate building dedicated to storing archaeological finds from the Chungcheong area and an outside space where many stone objects from different historical periods can be found.
The second exhibition space within the main museum building is unique, focusing on artefacts excavated from King Muryeong’s tomb, which is situated nearby. This exhibition brings to life the 1971 accidental disturbance and subsequent excavation of the tomb by including photographs which were taken during excavation, as well as incorporating many interesting and unique items that were recovered from the tomb. You can see both the king’s and (unknown) queen’s coffins, their stone epitaphs, ceremonial shoes and other personal items as well as the wonderful stone statue of a mythical creature known as a jinmyosu, which acted as a tomb guardian. A dual visit to the Tomb of King Muryeong at the nearby Royal tombs at Songsan-ri, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Baekje Historic Areas listing, and the museum itself, is recommended to get the most out of your visit. This will allow you to see the original tombs of King Muryeong and other royals and enter a reconstruction of the King's beautiful brick-built inner tomb, as well as learn more about the tombs and the artefacts recovered.
Gongpyeong Historic Sites Museum offers visitors the unique experience of walking through the preserved streets of Joseon Dynasty Gyeonpyeong-bang. Surprisingly, this archaeological site/museum is located in the basement of the Centropolis Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The original archaeological remains of alleyways and buildings have been preserved in situ, and you can walk over these foundations using a raised glass floor or follow a ground level pathway through the remains. There is also a reconstruction of one of the buildings over its excavated foundations. There are various items on display that were recovered during the site excavation, as well as a display on site stratigraphy, which dates from the Joseon Dynasty right up to the Japanese occupation. If visiting Gongpyeong Historic Sites Museum it is also recommended to visit the Seoul Museum of History, as it further contextualises the lives of people living in Joseon Dynasty Hanyang.
Gongpyeong Historic Sites Museum
Gwangju National Museum
Gwangju National Museum has a general focus on the history of Gwangju and the Jeollanam-do region from prehistory through to the Joseon Dynasty. It sits in a relatively large space with various buildings and a walking route where you can see different stone items of historical interest. The main buildings open to visitors are the main gallery and the children's museum. The main gallery consists of two history and culture rooms, including an area dedicated to Buddhism, and a virtual reality room. There is also a temporary exhibition space on the ground floor. Please note that at the time of visitation in January 2026 additional facilities, such as a café and museum shop, were not available, although a notice did state that a café would be opening in 2026.
Gyeongju National Museum
Gyeongju National Museum lies within walking distance of many of Gyeongju's iconic cultural heritage sites. It is a big museum and has a diverse collection of interesting and beautiful artefacts, so set aside plenty of time to explore. Gyeongju was the capital during the Silla (57 BCE – 676 CE) and Unified Silla (676-935 CE) periods, which is around 1,000 years of history, so the museum houses many pieces. It has five different permanent exhibition spaces set across different buildings - Silla History Exhibition Hall, Silla Art Exhibition Hall, Wolji Exhibition Hall, Treasury of the Silla Millennium and an outdoor exhibition area. There is also a temporary exhibition space. Silla History Exhibition Hall focuses on Silla's origins and development, its use of gold with some fantastic examples including crowns and jewellery, and its role as a state. This space also includes a large donated collection. Silla Art Exhibition Hall houses many pieces of beautiful Buddhist sculpture, large and small, and has a digital gallery. In Wolji Exhibition Hall you can see various items found at nearby Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. The Treasury of the Silla Millennium area is a storage facility housing artefacts from the wider Gyeongsang-do area whilst the outdoor area showcases various stone objects. This is a great museum to visit and it is very easy to spend hours exploring the collections in each of the different buildings. Luckily, there are also plenty of rest spaces inside and out to take a break.
Haeinsa Seongbo Museum
Haeinsa Seongbo Museum is a relatively small museum located on Gayasan Mountain in Hapcheon, just a short walk away from Iljumun Gate, the entrance to Haeinsa Temple. If you are visiting the temple, then you will pass the museum on your way there. The museum focuses on the temple and its Tripitaka Koreana, and holds a nice selection of Buddhist related items including books, paintings, sculptures, incense burners, candlesticks and a large bell. There are also examples of woodblock printed materials along with a few woodblocks, giving visitors a chance to view up close artefacts that are the same as the Tripitaka Koreana, which are held in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Janggyeong Panjeon depository within the temple, but can only be viewed at a distance as they are locked away behind closed doors. There is also an interactive exhibit allowing visitors to use a replica woodblock to print.
Hahoe World Mask Museum
Hahoe World Mask Museum is a unique and wonderful little museum right at the entrance of Hahoe Village in Andong, which is one of the two villages that make up the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Historic Villages of Korea. The museum displays masks from all over the world, but more relevant to its location is that it houses examples of Hahoe masks which are traditional wooden masks that date back as far as the 12th century and are designated as national treasures. The masks were used in the mask dance drama of Hahoe, which is known as the Hahoe Byeolsingut Tallori and is designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage. As well as focusing on the specific use and appearance of many of the masks on display, the museum also delves into the actual rituals they were part of, giving some lovely insights into the cultural history of Hahoe.
Iksan National Museum
Iksan National Museum is located next to the remains of Mireuksa Temple, which is one of the sites that make up the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Baekje Historic Areas. The museum focuses specifically on remains recovered from the Mireuksa Temple site and with this in mind it tells the story of the Baekje Kingdom (18 BCE to 660) in present day Iksan. You can see many different kinds of artefact there, including a really nice selection of roof tiles with different designs, ceramics, and the partial remains of a wooden coffin thought to belong to King Mu, as well as a scale model of a reconstructed Mireuksa Temple. There is also an immersive digital gallery and a children's museum. The Wanggung-ri archaeological site, which is also part of UNESCO’s Baekje Historic Areas listing, can be found just a short car ride away.
Jeonju National Museum
Around 20 minutes drive away from Jeonju's famous Hanok Village is Jeonju National Museum. Jeonju is the largest city in Jeonbuk, and Jeonju National Museum focuses on the history of the Jeonbuk area from prehistoric times right up to the Joseon Dynasty. There are galleries focusing on Joseon literati calligraphy, history through several thematic displays, arts and crafts including Buddhist art and ceramics and a gallery focusing on Jeonju during the Joseon Dynasty. There is also a separate building that houses the Children's Museum, whilst outside there are large stone artworks and several replica tombs. If you are in Jeonju it is worthwhile to visit the museum, the Hanok Village and the National Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is just a short walk away from the Hanok Village.
National Intangible Heritage Center
The National Intangible Heritage Center is a huge building complex within walking distance of Jeonju Hanok Village. With the aim of safeguarding and revitalising South Korea's intangible cultural heritage, the center has space for archives, education, exhibitions and performances. In the permanent exhibitions building there are two floors which focus on South Korea's intangible cultural heritage, not just that recognised by UNESCO. There are areas for games and martial arts, knowledge and skills, performing arts, and rites and ceremonies. The center has many really excellent digital media displays as well as the usual type of display you would expect to find in any museum - the tangible elements that compliment the intangible. For many practices there is an accompanying video which shows a craftsperson at work, or people dancing, singing or chanting, so each of the displays comes to life. The pansori display is really nice as the viewer can listen to different options as well as pick up a flyer with accompanying lyrics, whilst the split screen visuals showing architectural and decorative styles are really stunning. If you are visiting the area, it is highly recommended to start or end your visit here, as there are many smaller historical sites on the walk between the center and Jeonju Hanok village.
National Folk Museum of Korea
The National Folk Museum of Korea can be found in the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. It is worth noting that the museum focus does not relate to Gyeongbokgung Palace itself, which is of a much earlier date. There are three permanent exhibitions. The first is The Beginning of K-Culture, which introduces visitors to various aspects of Korean culture. The second is A Year in Korea, which explains the lives of people during the 19th and 20th centuries and is based around the four seasons. The third is Korean Life Passages, which presents various important parts of Korean life from the Joseon Dynasty to the 20th century, including birth, education, marriage and ancestral rights. The museum also has a number of outdoor exhibitions that introduce places from different time periods that were part of everyday life for the people of South Korea.
National Museum of Korea
The National Museum of Korea is an absolute delight to visit if you want to know more about South Korea's history and development up to the end of the Korean Empire. The museum is set in a lovely open plaza area that has lots of seating and a pond as well as a convenience store and a coffee shop. The National Hangul Museum (currently closed for renovation) is in the same area, and just a short walk away you will find Yongsan Family Park. The main museum space is made up of two areas: a permanent exhibition hall and a special exhibition gallery. The permanent exhibition hall consists of three floors. The first floor houses Korean history galleries that are split by time period from prehistory up to the Korean Empire. The second floor houses donated works and calligraphy and painting, whilst the third floor focuses on world art, sculpture and crafts. There are also immersive digital galleries on the first and second floors.
There are many fascinating items in the museum. Prehistoric hand axes, Bronze Age weapons, patterned roof tiles from the Goguryeo Kingdom and intricate armour from the Gaya period to name just a few. Of particular note are the Uigwe, books that set out the royal protocols in place during the Joseon Dynasty. The Uigwe include details relating to royal ceremonies, rituals and other important state events and are recognised by UNESCO as a Memory of the World, which is a collection of documentary heritage from all over the world that is recognised as having outstanding universal value. The museum also houses regular special exhibitions too. Recent examples include the Culture and Histories of Indigenous People in North America (2024) and Mana Moana, Arts of the Great Ocean, Oceana (2025). Entry to the permanent exhibition hall is free, whilst a fee is payable for entry to any special exhibitions.
The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Seoul is in the vicinity of several other cultural heritage attractions: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwanghwamun Gate, The Story of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sunshin exhibition, and more. It should definitely not be overlooked as it provides a glimpse of South Korea's recent past. Its permanent exhibitions consist of a history gallery and an interactive gallery. This history gallery is split into three different time periods. The first focuses on the years 1894 to 1945 and is centred around the themes of freedom, equality and peace. The second explores life after liberation and the Korean War and the third outlines attempts to establish democracy, the changing relationship between north and south and how life has changed in modern times.
The interactive gallery, which takes up a whole floor, recreates scenes from the lives of different generations so visitors can understand more about how lives in South Korea have changed over time. The museum also hosts a number of diverse special exhibitions based around Korean contemporary history. The Performing Arts in Korea Reflect the Times exhibition (2025) in association with the National Theatre of Korea reflected on the origins and changes in Korea's performing arts at different periods of time, whilst the Memory of You (2025) exhibition explored the topic of liberation for the 80th Anniversary of Korea's liberation (2025). If you want to get a better understanding of South Korea and its people today, then the National Museum of Contemporary Korean History is the perfect place to visit as it highlights some of the key events that the country and its people have experienced over the last century or so.
National Museum of Korean Contemporary History
National Museum of Korean Democracy
The National Museum of Korean Democracy in Seoul opened its doors in June 2025. It stands apart from other museums because its focus is on South Korea's modern history. In fact, one of the museum buildings is the old Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Interrogation Office, which was active in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, the building is infamous because it was the site of state-sponsored interrogations and torture, and it was the site where a pro-democracy student supporter died. The main museum building is made up of three floors with the ground floor displaying various pieces of writing from the period, giving personal insights into the lives of some of those involved in the fight against oppression, whilst the basement floors are dedicated to democracy projects and related media. The Anti-Communist Interrogation Office building has five floors which introduce the building, the context surrounding its use and the individual stories of some of the people involved. The fifth floor is preserved in the form of the rooms where prisoners were held, and descriptions of what happened in some of the rooms, along with short quotes from prisoner statements, are on display. Although some visitors might feel the museum raises an uncomfortable topic, the museum does an excellent job of highlighting a very recent and difficult chapter in South Korean history - one that needs to be confronted rather than hidden.
Royal Portrait Museum
The Royal Portrait Museum is located in Jeonju within the Gyeonggijeon Shrine complex. The museum consists of two floors. On the ground level floor there are a number of royal portraits belonging to King Taejo (1392–1398), King Sejong (1418–1450), King Yeongjo (1724–1776), King Jeongjo (1776–1800), King Cheoljong (1849–1864), King Gojong (1864-1907), and his son and last emperor of Korea, King Sunjong (1907–1910). There is also a small display focusing on the brushes and pigments used. The basement level offers a variety of different experiences. You can view a small collection of historical artefacts in the History Hall or see different palanquin designs, including an original palanquin, in the Palanquin Hall. There are also a few interactive experiences that are fun for both adults and kids. Visitors can take a scan of their face, choose from a few different royal outfits, and have them made into a royal portrait that can be downloaded onto a personal device to take away and displayed on a large screen for everyone to see. Alternatively, visitors can design a whole character look and then have the end result displayed on a huge multi-wall screen, riding around the room on a horse. A nice museum for visitors of all ages.
Seoul Museum of History differs from many of Seoul’s other museums in terms of both its geographical and its historical focus. The museum tells the story of Seoul from its beginnings during the Joseon Dynasty (1392) right up to the present. There are five different areas in the museum that take visitors through the history of the city starting with the beginnings of the Joseon Dynasty and the establishment of Hanyang as its capital, the opening of its port and the Korean Empire, Japanese control of the city, Seoul’s role as a capital and finally a theatre that focuses on present and future Seoul. The museum also has several other locations that help to tell the story of Seoul’s history, such as the Gongpyeong Historic Site Museum where you can see the archaeological remains of Joseon Dynasty alleyways and buildings.
Seoul Museum of History
The Silk Exhibition Hall and Workshop can be found in the village of Dusan-ri in Gangwon-do, not far away from the Gameunsa Temple site. It consists of a two floor museum building housing various historical items related to silk making, including tools, looms, some beautiful examples of historical silk clothing and dioramas showing past silk weaving scenes. As you enter the nearby workshop you can see silkworm cocoons resting it water as they are being worked before finally being formed into yarn, ready to be used on the many looms sitting in the workshop. You can even taste beondegi, a Korean street food made from the silkwork pupae being used in the silk making process. On some days you can also see village elders sitting at the looms, or working with the silk, demonstrating the historical silk making techniques that are still being used today.
Silk Exhibition Hall and Workshop
Silla Dynasty Tombs Information Centre and Geumgwanchong Tomb Conservation and Exibition Space
The Silla Dynasty Tombs Information Centre and Geumgwanchong Tomb Conservation and Exibition Space are unexpected gems that are located right next to each other in the tomb rich area of Gyeongju. The Silla Dynasty Tombs Information Centre displays artefacts found in the nearby tumuli and also displays an insightful guide to how tumuli changed over the different historical periods. The Geumgwanchong Tomb Conservation and Exibition Space complements this by giving historical context in relation to the excavation of nearby tombs in the form of a very interesting video, including details of Japanese involvement in this process during Korea's occupation period. The majority of the building is set up as a replica tomb under construction so that visitors can understand the process. If you want to get a better understanding of the history of tumuli excavation and conservation, and the process of and changes in tumuli construction, rather than just view tombs, then these two centres are a must. There is a single small entry fee for access to both.
Ulsan Daegok Museum houses artefacts recovered during the 1999-2005 construction of the nearby Daegok Dam. It also sits very close to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream. The museum has three different exhibition halls split over two levels, with all displays focusing on different aspects of the area, including the Cheonjeon-ri petroglyphs, which are close by. The museum has many artefacts relating to the historical Silla period and in fact some of the Cheonjeon-ri petroglyphs also date to this period. Outside the museum you can see a number of tombs from the Hasamjeong tumuli site which were relocated and then restored, along with an iron smelting furnace. If you are in the area you should also visit the Ulsan Petroglyph Museum, which is located nearer to the Daegok-ri petroglyphs.
Ulsan Daegok Museum
If you are visiting Ulsan Petroglyph Museum then you are in a fairly remote but easy to get to area and are likely there to see the nearby UNESCO World Heritage listed Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream. This museum has several displays in its permanent exhibition hall which focus on the Bangucheon Stream area, the petroglyphs at Daegok-ri and Cheonjeon-ri and prehistoric life and art from around the world, including rock art, portable art, and cave painting. The museum also houses a full size replica of the Cheonjeon-ri petroglyphs, although it is relatively easy to see the original which lies not too far away. An interesting addition is a display dedicated to the UNESCO status of the petroglyphs and the outstanding universal value that allowed them to be listed as a World Heritage Site. If you are in the area, don't forget to visit the nearby Ulsan Daedok Museum too, which is near the Cheonjeon-ri petroglyph site.
Ulsan Petroglyph Museum
The War Memorial of Korea is located in Seoul and is just one subway stop away from the National Museum of Korea at Samgakji Station. The museum has both outside and inside exhibits relating to war through the ages in Korea. Outside exhibits include statues, monuments and original Korean War vehicles and aircraft. Inside the huge main building there are three floors that consist of a beautiful memorial hall, two war history rooms, a Korean War room and archive centre, a UN participation Korean War room, an expeditionary forces room and a ROK armed forces room. Within those spaces you can see war vehicles, a replica Joseon war ship and various artefacts, artworks and writings relating to the different conflicts encountered by Korea, from ancient battles to more recent conflicts.
War Memorial of Korea
