National Folk Museum of Korea, Seoul

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The National Folk Museum of Korea exhibits the rich folk and cultural history of Korea

The National Folk Museum is a depiction of the culture and folk history of the Korean people, beginning from the prehistoric times to the culmination of the Joseon Dynasty. The museum has both temporary and permanent displays. The museum is devoted to the study and research of the folk history of Korea. It collects artifacts from various regions in Korea and assimilates at one place to give an insight into the culture and lifestyle of the Koreans. It conducts several workshops, seminars, exhibitions, concerts, and allied activities for the promotion of Korean culture and values.

The museum is replete with photos, models, film techniques, and mock-ups of the dwellings of Koreans now and a century ago. There are three exhibition halls and one Donation Hall in the museum:

Exhibition Hall 1 lets the visitors get acquainted with the folk history of Korea. It records the history of mundane life in Korea, explains how humans associate with nature, expose cultural ethos, territorial expansion, and rise of the middle class.
Exhibition Hall 2 shows the life cycle of the agrarian Koreans during the Joseon period. It portrays the daily activities of the Korean villagers through the four seasons. The collections at the exhibition hall 2 are centered upon housing, diet, agriculture, various occupations, etc.
Exhibition Hall 3 highlights the life of the upper class of Joseon society. The society was guarded by the principles of Confucian. It was essential to have a son to carry on the family line. The family had to mourn the dead for three years.

The Donation Hall contains the items donated by the families.

National Folk Museum of Korea Map

Location map of National folk museum of South Korea

National Folk Museum of Korea Facts

The museum was set up as the National Museum of Ethnology on November 8, 1945.
It was opened to the public on April 25, 1946.
It became the National Folk Museum of Korea in 1993.
On May 24, 1999, the museum’s Collection Management Division was established.
Children’s Folk Museum was opened in 2003.
More than 2 million people annually visit the museum.

National Folk Museum of Korea Location

The National Folk Museum of Korea is sited inside the Gyeongbokgung Palace. The museum can be accessed from the Incheon International Airport within 2 hours and 6 minutes by bus, or within 1 hour and 41 minutes by subway.
Address : 37, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Best time to visit National Folk Museum of Korea

Autumn (from September to November) is the best season to visit South Korea.

National Folk Museum of Korea Opening Hours

The National Folk Museum of Korea opens daily at 9:00 a.m. The closing times of the museum differ throughout the year. The museum closes at 6:00 p.m. from March to May and September to October. It closes at 6:30 p.m. from June to August, while from November to February, it closes an hour early, at 5:00 p.m. From May to August, on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, the museum closes at 7:00 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays and January 1.