National Museum of Korea

National Museum of Korea The largest museum in Korea, showcasing masterpieces of Korean art and history. They are yours to discover. and Sat.

Open daily 9:00am–6:00pm
Late opening until 9:00pm on Wed. Join our daily English tour at 10:30 and 13:00 🗣 Please check Visitor Information before you visit: www.museum.go.kr/site/eng/content/hours_and_fees

** Closed on Jan-1, Seollal (Feb-1), Chuseok (Sep-10) and first Monday of April and November

The National Museum of Korea welcomed a very special guest — BLACKPINK.Come experience the vibrant energy that filled th...
03/09/2026

The National Museum of Korea welcomed a very special guest — BLACKPINK.
Come experience the vibrant energy that filled the special exhibition, Amazing Thailand.

Special Exhibition | Amazing Thailand: Masterpieces of Thai Art
Special Exhibition Gallery 1
June 23, 2026 – September 6, 2026
Tickets required (online or onsite)

03/09/2026

[September: Celebration, Moments of Pure Joy]

How did people in the past express their feelings on days of great celebration? They held joyful feasts, dressed in their finest attire, and raised their cups in celebration while wishing for lasting blessings.

They prayed for bountiful harvests, celebrated long life, and blessed the new beginnings of marriage. The royal court hosted grand banquets and had auspicious characters for longevity and good fortune inscribed on special vessels, wishing for happiness to endure through generations.

From the prayers for abundance engraved on the Ritual Bronze Object with Farming Scenes to the brilliant scenes of royal court banquets and weddings, the desire to share moments of joy and wish each other happiness has transcended time.

As September brings Chuseok, Korea’s traditional harvest festival and a time when people give thanks for the year’s bounty and share warmth with family, we invite you to experience these vibrant moments of celebration at the National Museum of Korea.

#국립중앙박물관

[Regular Exhibition Closure Notice]Dear visitors, we would like to inform you that the indoor exhibition galleries at th...
02/09/2026

[Regular Exhibition Closure Notice]

Dear visitors, we would like to inform you that the indoor exhibition galleries at the National Museum of Korea will be closed on Monday, 7 September 2026 for our regular maintenance day.

The Permanent Exhibition Hall and Special Exhibition Galleries 1 and 2 will be closed, while the outdoor exhibition area will remain open as usual.

Please find our closure dates and regular opening hours below to help plan your next visit.

2026 Exhibition Closure Dates
1 June (Mon), 7 September (Mon), 7 December (Mon)

2026 Museum Closure Dates
1 January, Lunar New Year's Day, and Chuseok Day (Korean Thanksgiving Day)

Regular Opening Hours
Open daily 9:30am–5:30pm (Last admission: 5:00pm)
Late opening until 9:00pm on Wed. and Sat. (Last admission: 8:30pm)

We look forward to welcoming you back to our galleries soon.

[September: Four Secrets Hidden in a Single Orchid]"Am I painting an orchid, or writing calligraphy?"This is an ideal fo...
01/09/2026

[September: Four Secrets Hidden in a Single Orchid]

"Am I painting an orchid, or writing calligraphy?"
This is an ideal form of orchid painting pursued by Kim Jeonghui, one of the foremost artists of 19th-century Joseon. For September, we present one of his masterpieces, Orchid, as a calendar wallpaper.

What story lies within this solitary orchid? Beyond its striking visual beauty, the swift and confident brushstrokes—executed as if writing calligraphy—capture both the resilient spirit of an orchid braving the wind and the essence of Kim Jeonghui's artistic philosophy.

The four inscriptions filling the blank space reveal why the painting was created and to whom it was given. They also convey the profound Buddhist insight that the essence of opposing things is ultimately "not two, but one."

We invite you to take a closer look at Orchid, a masterpiece that highlights the sublime harmony of painting and calligraphy. You can download it and use it as your September calendar wallpaper. NMK calendar wallpapers are available for download via the below link.
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1FQQaebEG43l9YC8mBUAOW-scFJihrwxm

Orchid | Kim Jeonghui | Joseon Dynasty, 1852–1856 | Calligraphy and Painting Gallery | Gift of SOHN Se Ki and SOHN Chang Kun, 2018

#국립중앙박물관

31/08/2026

Cheongdo is welcoming one of Korea’s Treasures!

In 1924, a gold crown and gold rattles emerged from a tomb in Gyeongju.
The crown is the smallest Silla gold crown ever excavated.

The tomb is believed to have belonged to a child, but exactly who the child was remains unknown to this day.

These small objects speak to the love of parents who adorned their child, lost too soon, with a gold crown and gold belt. Witness their love at the Cheongdo Museum.

Stories of life long ago come to life once more. Discover them in Cheogdo all autumn long.

Special Exhibition | Accompanying a Young Soul to the After Life
Cheongdo Museum, Cheongdo, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
September 8–November 22, 2026

27/08/2026

[NMK Essential] National Museum of Korea Audio Guide

Even when encountering an artifact or an artwork for the first time, knowing its story makes the experience so much richer.

If it is your first time visiting the National Museum of Korea, deciding where to begin can feel overwhelming. At times like this, simply prepare your smartphone and earphones. The official museum app will accompany you through every step of your journey, from finding your way to listening to the fascinating stories behind the artifacts.

1. Download the official National Museum of Korea app.
2. Select the gallery and artifact you wish to view.
3. Tap the navigation icon, and the AR navigation will guide you directly to the artifact.
4. Once you stand in front of the artifact, detailed commentary will appear on your screen.
5. Tap the "Voice Explanation" button to listen to the audio commentary.
6. This service is available for artifacts displaying the audio icon.

Pause for a moment in front of your favorite artifact, and enjoy a richer museum journey with your eyes and ears.

#국립중앙박물관

26/08/2026

Seongju is welcoming one of Korea’s Treasures!

With its full, rounded body, this white porcelain jar resembles a luminous moon in the night sky.
Celebrated for its quintessentially Korean beauty, this pure-white moon jar is now on view at the Seongju Seongsan-dong Tombs Museum.
Stories of life long ago come to life once more. Discover them in Seongju all autumn long.

Special Exhibition | Falling in Love with the Beauty and Purity of Joseon White Porcelain
Seongju Seongsan-dong Tombs Museum, Seongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
September 2–November 29, 2026

25/08/2026

Gochang is welcoming Korea’s Treasure!

How did people farm in Korea during the Bronze Age?

A man with feathers in his hair plows a field,
while a woman places something in a jar.
These scenes of ancient life are vividly preserved on the Ritual Bronze Object with Farming Scenes.

Discover the story of life thousands of years ago captured in this small bronze object at the Gochang World Heritage Dolmen Museum.

Stories of life long ago come to life once more. Experience them in Gochang all autumn long.

Ritual Bronze Object with Farming Scenes | Bronze Age | Planned to be exhibited at the Gochang World Heritage Dolmen Museum

Special Exhibition | Embodiment of an Era: Bronzeware with Agricultural Designs
Gochang World Heritage Dolmen Museum, Gochang, Jeonbuk-do Province
September 1–November 22, 2026

[Creatures_Time and Order] The Four Guardian Figures Protecting the Tomb and the DeceasedDid you know there was a "guard...
25/08/2026

[Creatures_Time and Order] The Four Guardian Figures Protecting the Tomb and the Deceased

Did you know there was a "guardian team" protecting the four cardinal directions even inside ancient tombs?

The Gangseojungmyo Tomb houses wall paintings representing the murals of the late Goguryeo Kingdom during the 7th century. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its historical value, its inner walls feature the four guardian deities.

Composed of the Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Red Phoenix, and Black Tortoise and Serpent, each deity corresponds respectively to the east, west, south, and north, as well as their associated constellations in each direction, colors, and seasons. Together, they symbolize the fundamental order of the universe. These sacred beings were believed to protect both the tomb itself and the soul resting within.

We invite you to explore the cosmic order that the Goguryeo people embodied through the deities in vivid detail at the Goguryeo Room and the Digital Immersive Gallery 3 at the National Museum of Korea.

Goguryeo Tomb Murals – East (Blue Dragon) | Goguryeo, early 7th century | Goguryeo Gallery | Replica of the mural from Gangseojungmyo Tomb | Image 1
Goguryeo Tomb Murals – West (White Tiger) | Goguryeo, early 7th century | Goguryeo Gallery | Replica of the mural from Gangseojungmyo Tomb | Image 2
Goguryeo Tomb Murals – South (Red Phoenixes) | Goguryeo, early 7th century | Goguryeo Gallery | Replica of the mural from Gangseojungmyo Tomb | Image 3
Goguryeo Tomb Murals – North (Black Tortoise and Serpent) | Goguryeo, early 7th century | Goguryeo Gallery | Replica of the mural from Gangseojungmyo Tomb | Image 4

Exhibition | Encountering Goguryeo through Images on Stone Walls
Immersive Digital Gallery 3
Ongoing
Free admission (no tickets required)
Murals of Gangseodaemyo Tomb featured

#국립중앙박물관

[Creatures_Time and Order] The Twelve Guardian Figures Protecting TimeWith the head of an animal, the body of a human, a...
24/08/2026

[Creatures_Time and Order] The Twelve Guardian Figures Protecting Time

With the head of an animal, the body of a human, and adorned in elaborate armor, who could these unique figures be?

The Twelve Earthly Branches is a traditional system for marking time and direction using twelve zodiac animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The zodiac animal statues represent this system as distinctive guardian figures with animal heads and human bodies.

During the Unified Silla period, there was a custom of interring small zodiac figurines in the tombs of royalty and aristocrats or having them delicately carved onto the retaining stones around the burial mounds. Serving as protectors of the deceased, these guardians were often depicted as mighty generals clad in ornately decorated armor and wielding swords.

We invite you to explore the statues along with various artifacts inspired by the Twelve Earthly Branches at the National Museum of Korea.

Zodiac Image in Bas-relief (Horse) | Unified Silla, 8th–9th century | Unified Silla Gallery | Images 2–3
Zodiac Image in Bas-relief (Hare) | Unified Silla, 8th–9th century | Unified Silla Gallery | Images 4–5

#국립중앙박물관

Address

137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu
Seoul
04383

Opening Hours

Monday 10:00 - 18:00
Tuesday 10:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 21:00
Thursday 10:00 - 18:00
Friday 10:00 - 18:00
Saturday 10:00 - 21:00
Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Telephone

+82220779000

Website

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