THE 15 BEST Seoul Art Museums
Art Museums in Seoul
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Types of Attractions
Museums
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Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
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65 results sorted by traveller favourites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
Recommended Museum Tickets and Passes (3)
Revenue impacts these recommendations, learn more.
Art Museums
Samcheongdong / Bukchon
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Temporarily closed
Art Museums
Jongno-gu
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Temporarily closed
Art Museums
Yongsan-gu
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Temporarily closed
Speciality Museums • Art Museums
Seoul Station / City Hall
Art Museums
Dongdaemun / Sindangdong
Art Museums
Gwanak-gu
Art Museums
Gwanak-gu
Art Museums
Samcheongdong / Bukchon
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Temporarily closed
Art Museums
Seongbuk-gu
Art Museums
Art Museums
Art Museums
Art Galleries • Art Museums
Jongno-gu
Art Museums
Art Museums
Art Museums
Daehakno
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Temporarily closed
Art Museums
What travellers are saying
- 3DMatrixLondon, UK830 contributionsWe stopped by the National Folk Museum of Korea as part of our city tour with Jessie at MySeoulTrip and following our visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace. It's located near the rear entrance of Gyeongbokgung Palace and is easy to walk to. The air conditioning was an added bonus.
The building itself is striking, with a concrete base rising high above the ground and a multi-story pagoda on top, surrounded by a beautifully landscaped garden. Inside, the museum features thoughtfully laid-out exhibits showcasing the daily lives and traditions of Korean people, both past and present, with artifacts covering topics like housing, clothing, tools, family life, marriage, and funerals. I particularly enjoyed the permanent exhibits.
The museum is medium-sized—spacious enough to feel relaxing but not overwhelming. Admission is free, and there’s a small cafe and museum shop near the main entrance. We spent about an hour browsing.
The National Folk Museum of Korea is a quiet and well-organized space that provides excellent insight into Korean culture. It’s an interesting stop for anyone visiting Seoul, history buff or otherwise.
Tip: I'd recommend finishing your visit/tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace before heading into the museum.Written 6 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - avazacopoulosMexico City, Mexico131 contributionsLet us start with the huge negative. You need to book in advance to go to the museum - even for the free section well in advance. Is this written in any guide? Noooo. We were lucky that we would be in Seoul for 10 days that we managed to book with difficulty - for each section separately. The huge positive, the collection is brilliant and well laid out and impressive and unique in many ways. Definitely worth going. The museum shop was a bit of a disappointment when compared to other art museums. The area surrounding the museum is upper class with super coffee shops and other boutique shops.Written 20 April 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- SophieSeoul, South Korea94 contributionsCame here for a free concert. Inside the hall was big and nice. The exterior is nice too, beautiful architecture. Outside, nice place to roam around with nature and have a nice meal on the bench. You can also walk around here, look at the beautiful fall leaves and trees.Written 10 December 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Yates262Richmond, VA158 contributionsIs across the street from the palace and I wanted to do something non-tourist and needed a break. Big, clean and modern is clean bathrooms and a nice cafe; plus numerous places to sit and relax. However, the 5-6 exhibits are spread around the building and a bit hard to navigate and the content are definitely on the weird side. It was an interesting @ 2 hours.Written 17 February 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MigulggSouth Korea25 contributionsTemporary exhibit of Edward Hopper was excellent and as costly as a European museum at 17000 won or 13 euros. If you want to see the small exhibits of modern Korean art, it's free. Great halls and audio and written guides. good café. Many people were there when we went, but manageable.Written 3 August 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Giovanna O1 contributionThis museum is truly breathtaking, I've never been to such a life, and perspective-changing place. After I was finished, I felt almost tempted to come back and do it all over again. Plus the building is very very cool, if I had enough money, I would have a house constructed based on it. It will make you feel so many things at once is kind of overwhelming but in a good way.Written 20 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- DimitriVolBerlin, Germany186 contributionsI visited an exhibition of paper art. Small museum, but very interesting! Warmly recommended. W6000 fee.
Don't miss the lovely "Cafe & Concept Store" at our right hand as you exit the museum (not the "Art Cafe Space" on the left hand, next to the tickets office).Written 23 May 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Celina YBangkok, Thailand25 contributionsA history of Coco Chanel as told through Karl Lagerfeld's interpretation. Wander throughout iconic Chanel trademarks and objects of inspiration. A feast for almost all the senses. Nicely curated.Written 3 July 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Mobile316208115894 contributionsPricy. Very few exhibits. A swimming pool that….says something. Fascinating stuff if you are Yoko Ono or Marina Abromovic or a student trying to impress their friends…the rest of us will be bored and gripping our empty wallet in regret…but the building is amazing…beautiful..a sad sign when the building outshines the art. My advice: check out the building interior for free.Written 5 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- OldjackGreater Melbourne, Australia29,767 contributionsThis was one of a number of impressive building, this one western style in the Deoksugung Palace compound. Arrived at the palace to see the changing of the guard which did not proceed because of slight potential for rain so visited the gardens and came across the museum which was not open. It is one of three around Seoul. Worth a look just for the architecture and gardens.Written 17 January 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Peter I5 contributionsThis museum doesn't exist anymore. Apparently it was a temporary exhibition..
I found out after spending two hours getting hereWritten 25 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - MazmannanBasingstoke, UK9,065 contributionsThe SOMA Museum of Art is located within the Olympic Park in Seoul. It is an art and cultural centre. The museum building is made of materials that are environmentally friendly.
The museum has two exhibition floors which have five exhibition halls. There is also a Video Art Hall and a drawing centre. Additionally, there are studios for art education.
The museum holds events in art education programs. There is an art academy for people of all ages. In addition, there are film shows, special presentations and events for kids.
On the day of my visit, there was an exhibition of Nude masterpieces from Tate.
The opening hours are 10am to 6pm. The last admission is 40 minutes before closing time. It is closed on Mondays and New Years Day and also the Korean Thanksgiving Day.
Ticket prices are 3,000 Won for adults (equivalent to about GBP2.00 Aug 2017).
The sculpture park outside the museum has many sculptures by various artists both local and international. It is worth visiting the museum art shop.Written 18 November 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Shane RAustralia6 contributionsAmazing place to visit, very impressive. Great collection of arts and crafts which are laid down for us to admire. A must see!Written 26 March 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Nigel GSingapore, Singapore8,558 contributionsVisited this museum yesterday - a colonial style stone building in the compound the the Deyoksu Palace aka Dokseogang. This is one of two campuses of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Admission by ticket - you need to buy this in addition to the W1000 palace entry ticket - no worries. There Is a fair amount to see and do. The brochure was complimentary with a fair commentary in English. Current exhibition is entitled The Arrival of New Women.
It looks at the concept of 'new women' - a tide of feminism that spread from Europe and from American to drive emancipation, empowerment and advancement both in society, the arts and education. Good display of early feminist magazines from early 1900's - it's about sophistication and transference from the image of the domestic coxswain. There is I believe a mistranslation in the guide in section one referring to consumption of the human body when perhaps they mean depiction. Notwithstanding, it's nice to have the English translation in the guide.
Two large canvases by Lee Yootae side by side depict women in industry and science. Inspiring and commanding.
The second section looks at artwork by female artists. So sad photography is forbidden - femininity is something to be celebrated and 'captured'. Captured on the canvas, but not by my lens. Such artists as Na Hyeseok, Park Rehyyun and Chung Kyungia captivate the audience. Further in the same gallery features embroidery - so serene.
A theme (reading through the brochure) existing in nationhood requires the loyalty of its subject - strange given it was a colonial occupation that tried to strip Koreans of their identity. It encourages fidelity and obedience, diligence and sincerity as merits of gender. These of course clashed when a woman looked to discover herself and to be, for example, an artist or educator - it was an awakening of her own abilities that leads to the celebrated outcomes before us.
Dance is captured on art in Section 3 with a super painting of Choi Seunghee - a Dancer and Kim Myeongsoon, a talented singer who apparently sang 'Tears of Mokpo' - I'm sufficiently enthused to go seek the lyrics.
It's a nice collection, well put together but sparse in English. Whatever you do, be sure to pick up the brochure - there are seats near the entrance - rest a while to look through prior to exploring to get most out of your visit, which I guess one would not expect to exceed two hours.
As usual here - no photography allowed - I fail to understand. Does the museum think I will steal the soul of the artist?Written 10 March 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
