The history of Korean museums goes back more than 100 years, to the opening of the Jesil Bangmulgwan in 1909. There are now 11 national museums in provincial cities throughout Korea, unified by the hub that is Seoul's iconic National Museum of Korea, completed in 2005, while the large number of regional, university, art, specialized and other museums continues to rise.

Korea's galleries emerged one by one with the advent of "modernity," the flourishing of modern art and the development of the economy, introducing many Korean and international artists and playing an important role in developing popular culture.

Korea's museums and galleries, displaying everything from Paleolithic relics to the latest experimental works by contemporary artists, offer windows onto the country's past, present and future.

Introduction 6


Chapter 1

National & Public Museums 10

National Museum of Korea / National Folk Museum of Korea /

National Palace Museum of Korea / Seoul Museum of History /

War Memorial of Korea


Chapter 2

Major Art Museums & Galleries 36

National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea / Seoul Museum of Art /

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art / Whanki Museum / Total Museum

of Contemporary Art / Art Sonje Museum, Art Sonje Center

Gallery Hyundai /Hakgojae Gallery / Gana Art Center /

Kukje Gallery / PKM Gallery


Chapter 3

Specialized Museums 78

Traditional Culture: The Museum of Korean Embroidery /

Gahoe Museum / Onggi Folk Museum / Museum of Korea Straw and Plants Hadicrafts

Specific Themes: World Jewellery Museum / Museum of Agriculture /

Lock Museum / Dongducheon Museum of Chicken Arts /

Owl Art & Craft Museum /Mokin Museum

Food: Pulmuone Kimchi Field Museum /Tteok Museum

History: Seodaemun Prison History Hall


Chapter 4

Regional Museums 98

Gyeongju National Museum / Gwangju National Museum /

Jeonju National Museum / Buyeo National Museum /

Daegu National Museum / Cheongju National Museum /

Gimhae National Museum / Chuncheon National Museum /

Jinju National Museum / Gongju National Museum /

Jeju National Museum


Appendix

Information 122


Delving Deeper

• History of Seoul 30

• History of Modern Art in Korea 60

• Galleries in Bukchon Area 74

• Insa-dong Neighborhood 76

• National Heritage 96

• Gyeongju: Korea's Leading Historic Capital 102

• Daedong Yeojido 118