Last checked: October 29, 2026, against the museum’s official English website. Hours and gallery closures can change, so check the museum’s notices before you go.
The National Museum of Korea in Yongsan is Seoul’s biggest museum and an easy first stop for anyone curious about Korean history and art. Entry to the permanent exhibition halls is free, and it stays open until 9 PM two evenings a week.
Quick facts
- Address: 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Phone +82-2-2077-9046 (Korean and English).
- Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (last admission 5:00 PM). Wednesday and Saturday, 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM (last admission 8:30 PM). The outdoor exhibition area is open 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and the Pagoda Garden needs no ticket.
- Closed days: January 1, Lunar New Year’s Day, and Chuseok. The official page lists the 2026 dates; I did not see the 2027 dates, so check them before a winter trip. The permanent and special galleries also close on the first Monday of March, June, September and December, which makes December 7, 2026 a closed day by that rule.
- Admission: Free for the permanent exhibition halls. Special exhibitions are charged in general, though the museum says some special exhibitions are free, so check each exhibition page.
- Reservations: The official pages list online reservations only for the Children’s Museum (free, reservation required) and for VR experiences (bookable up to 30 days ahead). I did not find a reservation requirement for the permanent halls.
- Map: National Museum of Korea on Google Maps
How to get there
Take Line 4 or the Gyeongui-Jungang Line to Ichon Station, go out Exit 2, and walk about 150 meters toward Yongsan Family Park. Elevators are near Exits 1 and 2. A covered underground path called Museum Nadeulgil links Ichon Station to the museum and is open 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
English tours and guides
The museum runs a Museum Highlights Tour for international visitors in English, Chinese and Japanese. Weekday and Saturday tours start at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM. On Sundays the English and Japanese tours run at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, and the Chinese tour at 1:00 PM. The meeting point is in front of the Korean Empire gallery on the first floor of the Permanent Exhibition Hall. I could not confirm whether you need to register, so check the museum’s guided tours page. The museum also lists a mobile app guide service, and I did not confirm which languages it covers.
Current and upcoming exhibitions
On the museum’s English homepage as of October 29, 2026:
- Breaking the Seal of a Thousand Years: Buddhist Manuscripts from Dunhuang, October 23, 2026 to January 24, 2027. See our Dunhuang guide.
- Kim Jeonghui and His Companions, August 11 to November 22, 2026. See our Chusa Kim Jeong-hui guide.
- Tour of National Treasures: Masterpieces Across the Country, May 19 to November 29, 2026.
- Evergreen Bamboo Through the Four Seasons Embodied in Ceramics, June 23, 2026 to January 31, 2027.
- Modern Art in Times of Change: Masterpieces from Kunsthaus Zurich, November 27, 2026 to April 18, 2027 (upcoming).
- Marie Antoinette Style, December 18, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (upcoming).
Some galleries close temporarily for work. The museum posted closure notices for the Oegyujanggak Uigwe Gallery on October 28, 2026 and for the Calligraphy and Painting, Sculpture and Crafts sections earlier this year, so check the notices before you plan around a particular gallery.
Tips for first-time visitors
- Wednesday and Saturday evenings give you extra hours; the last admission is 8:30 PM.
- I did not find an official photography rule in the pages I checked, so follow the signs in each gallery.
- Plan a half day. The museum is large, and the outdoor area is open from 7 AM.