Top 4 Museums in Seoul

What do we know about Seoul? First of all, it is known as the capital of South Korea and the largest metropolis in the country, with a population of more than 9.9 million people. It is also a global capital when it comes to technology, fashion influencers, K-POP, and cosmetics. But of course, there is a history behind how Seoul became the city that it is today. And so, without further ado, here are the top 4 museums in Seoul.

Learning History

What do we truly know about Seoul and its history? Seoul’s history as a city stretches back over two thousand years, to the time of Three Kingdoms! It became the capital of the Joseon dynasty named Hanyang (or Hanseong) and got its present name only after World War II and Korea’s liberation in 1945. And these are just some random facts! So, if you are eager to know more about the history of South Korea’s capital, make sure to read on! These are the Top 4 museums in Seoul to visit if you’d like to learn more about the city.

Seoul Museum of History

The first place which you should visit is the Seoul Museum of History. There you can experience the past 600 years of Seoul’s history in detail. The exhibition has divided into 5 zones:

• Zone 1 opens up the Hanyang period of the Joseon Dynasty
• Zone 2 draws a picture of Seoul in its early period of modernization
• Zone 3 tells us about the lives of Seoul and its citizens during the Japanese Occupation
• Zone 4 examines the events following independence up until 2022
• The final, Zone 5, presents video and photography of present-day Seoul

At the Seoul Museum of History, you can experience every important period of the history of the city. Experiences come in the form of maps, drawings, clothes, and furniture.

What sparked my interest the most was the original panel door of Hanyang (16-17 centuries) and the exposition of a traditional Korean bar (술집) which was opened in 1965.

Also, the museum offers a special Panoramic theater where you can observe a highly realistic scale model (1,500:1) of Seoul city. The exhibition presents a bird’s-eye view of Seoul along with multimedia and intricate models.

Seoul Museum of History (서울역사박물관)

Address:  55 Seomunan-Ro, Jongro-Gu, Seoul
Korean address: 서울 종로구 새문안로 55
Operating Hours:09:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Closed Mondays

Seoul City Wall Museum

The second location on our list of the top 4 museums in Seoul is the Seoul City Wall Museum.

After learning the main aspects of the city’s history at the Seoul Museum of History, it is time to learn about its ancient borders. Hanyangdoseong (the Seoul City Wall) was built during Joseon to mark the boundaries of the capital and to protect the city.

The museum presents the historical and cultural values of Hanyangdoseong and its significant role from the time of the Joseon Dynasty through to today. The museum consists of four main halls. Inside you will find; the Permanent Exhibition Hall, the Special Exhibition Hall, the Seoul City Wall Archives, and the Learning Room. Through these exhibitions, you can easily explore how the new capital and its city walls were built. They suffered during the Japanese Colonial period and after Liberation, then were rebuilt and restored. A virtual walk around the 18.627 km wall is also available for all visitors.

Seoul City Wall Museum (한양도성 박물관)

Address:  283 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Korean address: 서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 283
Operating Hours:09:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Closed Mondays

Hanyangdoseong Historic Site Museum

Right after we’re enriched by City Wall’s history with photos and videos it’s time to observe the relics of the remains of the city wall on the foot of the Namsan Mountain. These relics were found in and around the Hanyangdoseong during the excavation between 2013 and 2014. On site, you can see the different segments of the wall and its construction styles that represent the specific era.

Hanyangdoseong Historic Site Museum (한양도성박물관)

Address:  283 Yulgok-Ro, Jongro-Gu, Seoul
Korean address: 서울 종로구 율곡로 283 1~3층
Operating Hours:09:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Closed Mondays

Seoul Urban Life Museum

Well, now, that we know everything about the history of the Korean capital, it’s time to explore its Urban Life!

Here you can learn how the city developed through rapid modernization. At the museum, you can see the entire transition from Korean traditional dwellings to newly built apartments. Along with this came the changing of daily rituals. Everything changed – including marriage, childbirth, education, and jobs. You can fully experience the change in the museum of Seoul Urban Life.

Museum has one main and one annex building. There are 4 Exhibition halls in the main buildings. On the first floor, the photos and video footage of Seoul from the 1950s to the 1960-80s are on display.

On the second floor, we can immerse ourselves in the development of Seoul citizens. On the third floor, everything about housing, education, and jobs can be seen. The fourth floor is dedicated to special exhibitions. Finally, the annex building has a story about Detention Area which was designed to hold unconvinced prisoners in custody before investigation or trial. Based on the information provided by the correctional center, the detention facility has been created with various articles and footage of prisoners expressing remorse for their crimes.

Seoul Urban Life Museum (서울생활사박물관)

Address:  27 Dongil-Ro, 174-Gil, Nowon-Gu, Seoul
Korean address: 서울특별시 노원구 동일로174길 27
Operating Hours: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Closed Mondays

Want to visit more interesting Museums in Korea? Click Here to learn about the Gongju National Museum and learn about the capital of ancient Silla.