City: Sejongno-dong
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The 6 Best Museums in Sejongno-dong, South Korea
Seoul is the business and cultural hub of South Korea, where skyscrapers tower over Buddhist temples. Take it all in from the N Seoul Tower, built atop a peak in Namsan Park. The teahouses and shops of Insadong give you a taste of Korean flavor, which you can further experience with a visit to the grounds and museums of Gyeongbokgung. UNESCO World Heritage Site Changdeokgung Palace is a fine example of authentic ancient architecture.
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1. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10,654 reviews
The National Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum are located on the grounds of this palace, built six centuries ago by the founder of the Chosun dynasty.
Reviewed By Krubee - Singapore, Singapore
At the heart of Seoul lies this ancient yet historically significant center of the Joseon dynasty - the Eternal, Grand, Beautiful and Enchanting Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest and grandest of the 5 palaces built during the Joseon dynasty in 1395 by King Taejo, the first King of Joseon.. It is the seat of the King, His household and the government. To date it is one of the most famous attractions in Seoul and South Korea. Millions of tourist visit this Palace and it is a must visit. You could take the Seoul metro and could alight at Gyeongbokgung station which is connected via Heungnyemun Gate or outside via Gwanghwamun station and you need to walk via North direction passing by the statue of King Sejong the Great. The National Palace Museum of Korea is located via Heungnyemun gate. The entrance fee to this palace is around 3K Won for adults. As you enter the main gate of Gwanghwamun in the south you will be greeted by several other gates as you walk north into the Geunjeongjeon (Throne hall). The cobbled stones floor indicates that you are entering history. Other significant buildings include the beautiful Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (Banquet hall) with a lake surrounding it, Gangnyeongjeon (King's residential quarter), Gyotaejeon (Queen's quarter), Hyangwonjeong (2 story Hexagonal shape pavillion on lake connected by Chwihyanggyo bridge), and many more. We went here during Fall season and it's magical we were surrounded by trees of red, yellow and orange. The wind blowing adds to the beauty of the falling leaves. Despite the plenty of tourists we have space to take beautiful photos and videos. There are even Korean cultural dance shows with photo opts afterwards. Behind this massive complex stands the mighty Mt. Baegaksan (a 342 m high granite mountain) a perfect background for your beautiful photos and videos. Some tourists rent traditional Hanbok dress, a traditional Korean clothes. Rental prices vary depending on the time starting at around 13K to 15K Won for about 4 hrs. It adds to the total experience you could get while walking around this historical palace not to mention it adds beauty to your photos and videos. Between 10 to 3 PM the traditional changing of the guards occur every hour which is a spectacle of Korean culture and tradition. We left at 5 PM which is also the closing time at this Eternal Grand Palace. It is my 2nd time to visit this but it still amazes me every time.
2. National Folk Museum of Korea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 963 reviews
The history of ordinary Koreans.
Reviewed By wireless_in_CA
This museum was located next to rear entrance to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. The building design was quite unexpected and its concrete base rose high above the ground with a multi story pagoda located on the top. There also was a nicely landscaped garden surrounding the museum. Inside were multiple exhibition halls that did a very good job in detailing the traditions and daily lives of the Korean people both past and present with artifacts (clothing, tools, replica homes, funeral biers, etc) and detailed explanations. The special exhibit was focused on present day workers from Incheon and the work they did. It was personal with their uniforms, biographies and the products they worked on (i.e. cars, textiles). Admission was free. A cafe was also located on the ground floor off to the side of the main entrance.
3. National Palace Museum of Korea
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 195 reviews
Reviewed By kanemochi - Seattle, United States
I highly recommend a short visit to this wonderful museum on Korean history on the Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds. Most people opt not to visit the museum which is a shame. There is no admission fee. The museum can be easily covered in an hour or two. If anything, the museum is a great place for a short rest and (clean) bathroom break after touring the palace grounds. There is ample seating and the museum is very calm and peaceful. It’s actually worth visiting on its own independently from the Palace IMO.
4. Children's Folk Museum
5. National Museum of Korean Contemporary History
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 120 reviews
Reviewed By KICon - Melbourne, Australia
Located within close proximity to a number of other Seoul highlights including the Bukchon Hanok village and Gyeongbokgung Palace, the free-entry Korean Contemporary History museum is an outstanding lesson in the country's at-times tragic history, tracing events from the start of the twentieth century as the country opened up to the world through international trade before a series of invasions, wars, the division of the north and south, the South Korean transformation into a manufacturing powerhouse, political uprisings and cultural shifts shaped the country we know today - all of which should prove an illuminating, melancholy and fascinating journey for the interested traveller. At the time of visiting, a temporary exhibition on the two decade history of the cellular phone in South Korea proved a fascinating step back in time. For me, this museum proved revelatory as I gained some insight into the war that my uncles fought in, came to understand how the division of north and south was characterised in popular culture, and learned how younger, educated Koreans rose up against politicians determined to seize power from the people. It is one thing to visit a museum; it is another thing to be changed by the experience.
6. The Story of King Sejong & The Story of Admiral Yi Sunshin
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By blairabroad2012 - Hong Kong, China
We saw the two statues and decided to explore further. Lovely little find - on our way to Gyeongbukgong Palace - all underground - and a great experience to learn more about Seoul's history. A great surprise and really fascinating!
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