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5 Must-See Museums in Seoul and How to Visit

From the National Folk Museum to Cheongwadae Sarangchae, here's where to head.

2 min readAug 15, 2019By Lydia Schrandt

Hi, I'm Lydia!

Lydia Schrandt is a writer, editor, and award-winning photographer currently based in Houston. She’s a contributor for USA TODAY 10Best and serves as the first chair of the Editors Council of the Society of American Travel Writers. Her work has appeared in Draft, Time Out Beijing, Travel+, USA TODAY, San Francisco Chronicle, and others.

Whether you’re interested in Korean art, culture, military history, or its political past, there’s probably a museum to suit your interests in Seoul. The South Korean capital is home to more than 100 museums, and among them, these are the ones you shouldn’t miss during your trip.

Why you are seeing these recommendations

1. War Memorial of Korea

An exhibit on a lake outside the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul.

Outside the War Memorial of Korea.Photo Credit: Mediaachef / Shutterstock

For the military history of South Korea.

This museum housed within former infantry headquarters chronicles the military history of South Korea and its many conflicts with North Korea, Japan, and China. Standouts include a collection of tanks, military planes, and guns from the Korean War.

How to Visit: Make the museum a stop on a full-day tour of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to experience firsthand the ongoing tensions between North and South Korea.

2. Namsangol Hanok Village

Traditional white houses at Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul.

Namsangol Hanok Village on a sunny day.Photo Credit: Jaione_Garcia / Shutterstock

For a glimpse into different societal tiers.

This living history museum features five restored traditional Korean houses (hanoks), each offering a glimpse of a different slice of society, from the working class to the Joseon dynasty nobility. Costumed interpreters host live workshops and demonstrations.

How to Visit: See the village on a city sightseeing tour, or include it as one of your stops on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus.

Visit Namsangol Hanok Village

3. National Folk Museum of Korea

The tiered-pagoda exterior of the National Folk Museum of Korea.

National Folk Museum of Korea and the mountains beyond.Photo Credit: Derek Teo / Shutterstock

For a large collection of artifacts.

Situated on the grounds of one of Seoul’s Joseon dynasty palaces, the National Folk Museum of Korea maintains a collection of some 100,000 artifacts highlighting the history and culture of the Korean Peninsula.

How to Visit: See the museum as part of a guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where the museum is located.

4. Cheongwadae Sarangchae

Beautiful views from the windows inside National Museum of Korea in Seoul.

Elegant Cheongwadae Sarangchae.Photo Credit: Chintung Lee / Shutterstock

For political and cultural history.

Spread across two floors, this museum explores Korea’s political and cultural history through exhibits on topics ranging from past presidents to the country’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.

How to Visit: Book a morning history tour of the Korean capital that includes Cheongwadae Sarangchae as a stop.

Visit Cheongwadae Sarangchae

5. National Museum of Korea

Exhibits inside the grand National Museum of Korea.

Exhibits at the National Museum of Korea.Photo Credit: NGCHIYUI / Shutterstock

For a comprehensive art collection.

This free museum ranks among the best in the country, thanks to its comprehensive collection of more than 150,000 pieces of Korean art and artifacts. The rotating collection almost always has something fresh to see, making it popular with repeat visitors.

How to Visit: Visit the museum with a guide to learn more about the history, heritage, and culture of South Korea.