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Museums Seoul

Museums

Samsung Children's Museum
Hands on museum for children. It also contains a nice outdoor playground behind the museum. Located across from Lotte World. Jamsil Station (#814/216 Line 2 or 8) Exit 8.
www.samsungkids.org (Korean)

War Memorial
Museum that exhibits the history of the Korean military from ancient times until the present. There are many interesting displays of weapons, battles, uniforms etc. Outside is free and there are many tanks, planes, and helicopters that you can look at. Closed on Mondays. (Open everyday in May and June). Adults W3,000, Kindergarten W1,000, Students W2,000. Parking is W2,000 for one hour plus W1,000 added every 30 minutes after the first hour. Located near Samgakji Station (#428/628 Line 4 or 6) Exit 12. www.warmemo.co.kr (Korean and English)

Seodaemun Museum of Natural History
Great for dinosaur fans! Lots of info if you read Korean, and still plenty to look at if you don't! Great 3D dinosaur movie. Small outdoor play areas too. Admission: Adult 3,000 Won, Children 1,000 won. Pay for parking, 2000 won for 2 hours Address:5-58, Yonhi Dong, Seodaeun-ku, Seoul, 120-113. Just up the road from Seoul Foreign School
phone:82 2 3142 3030/ 3114
Website: http://namu.sdm.go.kr/

Turtle Ship
Turtle ship website
Directions: subway line 4 to Ich'on Exit 4 & walk about 500m towards river to the turtle ship.

Children's museum in the National Folk Museum at Gyeongbokgung Palace.
The children's section is not large but they have lots of hands on activities for kids from about ages 2 to 6 that teach about Korean culture. It is next door to the National Folk Museum. There is also a very nice garden outside the building and a place to buy or bring lunch. Admission to Gyeongbokgung- Adults: W1000 and children over 6 W500

Museum of Korean Embroidery
Website of this museum, with all necessary information for visitors. It also has some nice pictures of Korean Embroidery on it.

Korean Folk Village
It is an open-air folk museum with a lot of things to see and do.The village displays replicas of homes and buildings from many time periods. Craftsmen produce traditional arts, a traditional wedding is reenacted, and several performances are held throughout the day. Attached to the Folk Museum there is an amusement park if you want some modern fun. Look for more info at the Korean Folk Village website. Go to the bottom of the page and you will find how to go there.

Kimchi Museum
This museum is located in the COEX-mall and gives you the opportunity to learn everything about kimchi. In the tasting room you can taste different types of kimchi and if you like you can buy some kimchi as a souvenir. Look at the Kimchi Museum's website for more details.

Changdeokgung Palace
This palace is located near Anguk station (orange line #3) and has a beautiful "secret garden". For more details look here.

Deoksu Palace
Although it is the smallest palace in Seoul, it is a favorite place to hang out for Korean people during lunch. It is located across the street from City Hall and easy to find. They just finished restoration of the complex so it is worthwhile visiting. Take a look at the Deoksu Palace website.

Changgyeong Palace
Located in the north eastern part of Seoul with a beautiful garden. The guided walking tour is a long one but there are bathrooms on the route. There is a small giftshop and you can buy some drinks. For more information look at the website.

Jongmyo Shrine
In the past it was connected to Changgyeong Palace. During the Japanese occupation a road was built in between to make a symbolic split. Nowadays there is an overpass, the road is still there. Look at this website for more information.

Sodaemun Prison
Heart-rending depiction of Japanese treatment of prisoners during Korea's struggle for independence. It is the number 4 prison on the list of World's Best Prison Museums. I have been there and it left a deep impression. Sodaemun Prison information

National Museum of contemporary Art, Korea
This museum is well known for it's high quality collection of contemporary Art and the special exhibitions. The exhibition of different types of Art works gives a good insight in several ways of artistic expression through paintings, sculptures and crafts. Certainly worth a visit during one of the many rainy summer days.

National Museum of Contemporary Art : 82-2-2188-6100
Fax: 82-2-2188-6123
Address: (427-701) San 58-1 (Gwangmyeong-gil 209), Makgye-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.

Royal Museum
This museum has more than 600 items such as potteries, furniture, metal pieces, accesories and musical instrument which were used by the Royal family. The Royal Museum is located in Seokjojeon Hall of Deoksugung Palace. Opening hours: 9.00-18.00, 9.00-17.30 (nov-feb), closed on Mondays. The price is included in the admission to Deoksugung Palace.

Museum of Korean Traditional Music
This museum displays articles related to traditional music including documents and instruments. It is located within the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts. Look at the website and click on number 5 for information in English.

Railroad Museum
The railroad museum in Uiwang-si city has on display various items such as steam locomotives, passenger trains and other items related to the railroad. If you like you can take a short ride on an old narrow gauge railway. Take the KNR train (part of the subway system) to Bugok station and walk about 10 minutes. Opening hours: 9.00-18.00 closed on Mondays. Telephone: 031-4613610

Korean Mask Museum in Andong

You can buy masks in every souvenir shop in Korea. They are cheap imitations of the real masks used in traditional theatre performances. If you really like masks and are driving around in the country. Go to Andong to visit the Korean Mask Museum.

Location of the Mask Museum:
287, Hahoe-ri, Pungchun-myun Andong city.
Tel: 0571-8532288 fax: 0571-8530114