5 Most Amazing Museum To Visit In South Korea

From ancient folk traditions and royal artefacts to contemporary history and futuristic technologies, South Korea has a museum for just about every area of interest. Here are our favorites.

* The National Museum of Korea

Housing more than 220,000 cultural artifacts on six floors, spanning from ancient and medieval history, to early modern history, The National Museum of Korea in Seoul is perhaps one of South Korea’s most expansive and impressive museums. With exhibitions centered on areas such as calligraphy, painting, sculpture and crafts, the cultural complex beautifully illustrates the country’s advancement in the arts, religion, and culture. Don’t miss the lesser-visited outdoor exhibition area, which features a pagoda-dotted path that directs visitors toward a tranquil resting area of streams and waterfalls.

* The War Memorial of Korea

Established to honor the noble sacrifice of South Korea’s patriotic martyrs, the War Memorial of Korea serves as a national moral educational venue with its some 33,000 war-related artifacts. Visitors should set aside a few hours to explore the museum’s six separate indoor halls and the outdoor exhibition hall of jumbo-sized weapons. Of particular interest is the War History Room, an exhibit that showcases Korean weaponry and battle uniforms from as early as the prehistoric age up to the late 1800s. The Wartime Life Room, meanwhile, allows visitors to wander through replicas of post-Korean War villages to get a better idea of what a nearly annihilated Seoul was like for the decade following the war.

* National Maritime Museum

It’s no surprise that the sea is so important to the citizens of Busan, South Korea’s largest port city and the world’s fifth busiest seaport by cargo tonnage. The exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum demonstrate this importance by focusing on all aspects of marine and ocean life, from the creatures of the sea to the history of the city’s maritime industry. The museum also houses a library, aquarium, performance stage, and a 4D theatre, offering something for all ages.

* Gyeongju National Museum

As the capital city of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC – AD 935), the city of Gyeongju is steeped in history and tradition. Perhaps nowhere is this more obvious than at the Gyeongju National Museum. Here, artifacts are beautifully curated in a variety of exhibitions areas including the Main Hall, which features earthenware, artworks and craftworks; the Gukeun Memorial Hall which houses over 600 artifacts from the personal collection of Dr. Lee Yang-Seon; and the Gobun Gallery in Annex I, a collection of artifacts from the city’s great tombs.

* Daegu Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine

Get a look into the history of oriental medicine through this interactive museum, which is part exhibition, part experience center. The exhibition demonstrates the origin of oriental medicine in Yangnyeongsi, while the experience center invites visitors to learn about concepts such as eumyang-ohaeng (the five natural elements of positive and negative energy) and sasangchejil (four body types) through activities. Take a walk along the museum’s acupuncture trail or soothe your feet in a footbath of medicinal herbs. On days ending with one or six (except the 31st), a wholesale market takes place downstairs.