Museums, Exhibitions and Concerts


Hyunjeong SHIN 

shin.hj@snu.ac.kr

Some of the most dynamic discourses currently taking place in South Korea are in the realm of art. Contemporary art in Korea certainly reflects the characteristics that the country has experienced, such as rapid industrialization and democratization. From the question of "What is a Korean perspective?" to "What is an Asian perspective?", contemporary art is grappling with the question of what is an Asian perspective.


Here are some places in Seoul where you can find it. Jongno and Jung-gu are obviously the best places to see Korean art, from traditional to contemporary. Most of Seoul's major public art galleries and museums are located near Jongno-gu, where Gyeongbokgung Palace is located. From folk and arts and crafts museums that cover Korean life and culture to contemporary art that covers some of the most progressive topics in Korea today, you'll find it all in Jongno and Jung-gu. Some museums have branches, but most of the largest main buildings are located in Jongno and Jung-gu. All of them are within a 15-20 minute walk. Most offer audio guides in foreign languages.


1. Contemporary Art in Korea


1-1. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

In Seoul, you can visit the Seoul Museum in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, and the Deoksugung Museum in Sejong-daero, Jung-gu. The Seoul Museum is the largest, built on the site of the former headquarters of the Korean Armed Forces, and hosts mostly contemporary art exhibitions. Deoksugunggungkan is located in Deoksugung Palace and features modern and contemporary art exhibitions. For more information: www.mmca.go.kr/.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

National Museum of Modern 

and Contemporary Art Inside 

source: https://50plus.or.kr/detail.do?id=26117. ⓒBravo

National Museum of Modern 

and Contemporary Art outside

source: https://design.co.kr/article/32960. ⓒ남궁선

1-2. Seoul Museum of Art


The main building of the Seoul Museum of Art is located near City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. It mainly hosts exhibitions of contemporary art from Korea and abroad, as well as exhibitions of emerging Korean artists. The Namseoul Museum of Art, located in Gwanak-gu, is housed in a former Belgian consulate. 


For more information: https://sema.seoul.go.kr/.



Seoul Museum of Art, SEMA

2. Korean Life, Culture and Handicrafts


2-1. Seoul Museum of Arts and Crafts


Located in Jongno-gu, near An Guk Station, you can visit the Seoul Museum of Arts and Crafts. Here you can learn about the history and flow of handicrafts in Korea from traditional to modern times. Traditional Korean craft techniques and tools are on display, as well as works by contemporary craft artists. 


For more information: https://craftmuseum.seoul.go.kr.

Seoul Museum of Arts and Crafts

2-2. National Folk Museum of Korea


The National Folk Museum of Korea is an institution that preserves and exhibits the traditional living culture of the Korean people. Located east of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the museum features permanent exhibits on Korean rituals, shamanism, agriculture and villages, and folk beliefs. 


For more information: https://www.nfm.go.kr.



National Folk Museum of Korea


3. Cultural Centers


3-1. Sejong Center for the Arts


Located next to Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is a center for Korean performing arts, hosting performances in a variety of genres, including classical music, opera, drama and dance. 


For more information, https://www.sejongpac.or.kr/.

Sejong Center for the Arts

3-2. Seoul Arts Center


Located in Seocho-dong, the Seoul Arts Center is the largest arts complex in Korea and includes an opera house and music hall, the Hangaram Art Museum, and the Calligraphy Museum. The Calligraphy Museum hosts exhibitions of contemporary Korean, Chinese, and Japanese calligraphers, while the Hangaram Art Museum hosts special exhibitions of contemporary art, as well as exhibitions on design, architecture, and photography. The building is arranged around a large central plaza and is widely recognized for its architectural beauty, with its harmonious use of glass and stone.

Seoul Arts Center