Most of Seoul’s major museums and galleries will be open in 2022 as people start to recover from the restrictions caused by COVID-19. Therefore, SEOULSPACE has decided to list some of the best museums in Seoul to visit in 2022. The list comprises museums that offer something for everyone from tourists to locals. Want to explore the history of South Korea? We’ve got a museum for that. Want to see modern and contemporary art? We have that covered as well. What about galleries with a digital flare? There are more than 100 museums and galleries in Seoul, but we were able to narrow them down to the ten best. Most of these museums in Seoul will offer one-way systems and social distancing to keep up with COVID-19 protocols. So what are you waiting for?
Here are the 10 best museums in Seoul to visit in 2022.
Leeum Samsung Museum of Art
The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art was opened in 2004. They have an impressive collection of Korean and international modern and contemporary art. The museum continuously looks to acquire Korean works of art with great historical value. They have over 15,000 works of art. The architecture of the museum itself is a work of art. It was done by world-famous architects Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas. It has a great blend of East and West works of art, making it one of the more international museums in Seoul.
Address: 60-16 Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Yongsan-gu
Museum Hours: 10:30am-6pm
Admission: 10,000 won (Students aged 7-24, disabled, and seniors 5,000 won), free for children under 6
ALT1 Gallery
The ALT1 Gallery is located at the Hyundai Seoul department store in Yeouido. The Hyundai Seoul is one of the best shopping department stores in Seoul. Its interior design offers many natural motifs such as indoor trees, gardens, and a waterfall. However, the key attraction is the ALT 1 Gallery located on the top floor. They had the immersive “Beyond The Road – Seoul 2021” exhibition. It showcased all kinds of artwork, such as paintings, sculptures, and video art. In addition, the exhibition had music via 3D audio speakers, making it seem like a live concert.
Address: 6F, 108 Yeoui-daero, Yeoui-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu
Museum Hours: 10:30am to 8pm (Monday – Thursday); 10:30am to 8:30pm (Friday – Sunday)
Admission: Beyond the Road Exhibition: 20,000 won
LOTTE Museum of Art
The LOTTE Museum of Art opened on the 7th floor of the LOTTE World Tower in January of 2018. LOTTE Museum of Art introduces new waves of modern art around the world. You can find art sculptures outside the tower on your way to the museum. There is the “Possibility” by Jaume Plensa, “Life as Marshmallows” by Joon, and the “Light Forest” by Kim Joo-hyun. The LOTTE Museum of Art is currently exhibiting “dreamer, 3:45 am” from Sep. 30th, 2021 – Jan. 2nd, 2022.
Address: 7th floor, 300, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu
Museum Hours: 10:30 am-7 pm
Admission: dreamer, 3:45 am: 18,000 won (19 and over), 15,000 won (13-18), 10,000 won (4-12), Free for children under 4.
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Seoul)
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is one of the oldest museums in Seoul. It was opened in 1969 and offers a wide selection of Korean art. It is considered the representative institution of Korean modern art. Furthermore, the museum offers a beautiful natural landscape that surrounds the site. Their focus moving forward will be to introduce global contemporary art. In addition, they have other locations located in Gwacheon, Deoksugung, and Cheongju. Therefore, through its various locations, MMCA intends to function as a cultural platform that encourages various disciplines of contemporary art from art, science, and humanities.
Address: 99 Sejong-daero, Jeong-dong, Jung-gu
Museum Hours: 10am-7pm
Admission: 4,000 won (entry is free on the last Wednesday of each month), and there is a 20% discount for groups of 10 or more.
Free admission for:
- Students under 24 and teachers
- Seniors over 65
- Disabled and caretaker
- Members of the MMCA
Ilmin Museum of Art
The Ilmin Museum of Art offers contemporary works of art. They have three exhibition halls, one for each floor. In addition, there are lecture halls and documentary archives. Therefore, the museum is known for holding lectures by art professionals. There are even special screenings that showcase their achieved images. In addition, they also have a bookshop, art shop, and coffee shop located on the first floor.
Address: 152 Sejongdaero, Jongno-gu
Museum Hours: Tue.-Sun: 11am-7pm
Admission: 7,000 won, Students 5,000 won and Seniors (over 65) 3,500 won)
Daelim Museum
The Daelim Museum is located near Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is considered South Korea’s first photography museum. However, these days the museum also showcases designs of all forms. Therefore, their exhibitions showcase new lifestyles, which shed new light on the value of everyday objects.
Address: 21, Jahamun-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu
Museum Hours: Tue/Wed/Fri/Sun: 10am-6pm; Thu/Sat: 10am-8pm
Admission: 8,000 won; Under 19 years old 3,000 won, Children: 2,000 won. Discount for Seniors and disbaled.
D Museum
D Museum is located near Seoul Forest which is near Seoul Forest Station. It has an underground entrance that connects straight to the subway station. Moreover, it also holds two exhibition halls, one performance hall, a rooftop, an education center, and a museum shop in the five-story building. The whole building is covered with transparent glass so you will be able to not only see Seoul Forest from inside but also the Han River. In addition, they provided online content through their official YouTube channel during COVID-19.
Address: 83-21, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu
Museum hours: 10 am-6 pm
Admission: (5-15,000 won based on exhibition)
Amorepacific Museum of Art
The Amorepacific Museum of Art (APMA) started with the private art collection of the founder and former CEO, Suh Sungwhan. The museum was established in 1979 and it was called the Pacific Museum. It was renamed the Amorepacific Museum of Art in 2009. It holds both traditional and contemporary art. The galleries are on the basement level and Atrium, a space that goes from the first floor to the third floor. Furthermore, once you enter the Amorepacific Museum of Art there is a lobby and shop, an exhibition space, and a library called the Amorepacific Library of Art Project.
Address: 100 Han River Boulevard, Yongsan-gu
Museum Hours: (Tues-Sun: 10 am-6 pm)
Admission: Free (Exhibitions may charge)
MY ART MUSEUM
MY ART MUSEUM is located in the center of Seoul. If you are in Gangnam, you won’t have to go far. It holds exhibitions of various high-quality works of art that transcend time and genre. Therefore, they offer exhibitions of famous Western paintings, fashion, architectural design, and decorative art exhibitions throughout the year. In addition to the exhibition hall, there is a lobby lounge, art shop, coffee shop, seminar room, open salon, culture salon, gallery, restaurant, and educational space.
Address: Textile Center Building B1, 518, Teheran-ro, Daechi 2(i)-dong, Gangnam-gu
Museum hours: 10 am-8 pm
Admission: Free (Exhibitions may charge)
Oil Tank Culture Park
The Oil Tank Culture Park is located near World Cup Stadium. It was originally an oil depot that stored over 69 million liters of oil after the oil crisis of 1973. However, South Korea turned the oil tanks into a cultural space thanks to the help of ideas by citizens. It is now an eco-friendly, complex cultural space with its original spatial properties of oil tanks intact. The five tanks were turned into performance venues, exhibition halls, and a multi-purpose pavilion. Moreover, there is even a newly-built tank that has become a community center with a cafeteria.
Address: 87 Jeungsan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Museum hours: 24/7
Admission: Free
Those looking to see Korean urban street art can do so at Urban Break, which is held in Seoul every year.
