National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (대한민국역사박물관)

Explanation

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History opened on December 26, 2012, and showcases Korea's modern history, from the opening of Incheon Port to current times. The museum provides an in-depth look at the changes in the nation through exhibitions and educational programs, as well as researching, developing, and collecting materials. The museum is comprised of four exhibition halls; Prelude to the Republic of Korea, Foundation of the Republic of Korea, Development of the Republic of Korea, and Modernization of South Korea, toward the World. In addition, the Korean History Dream Village features a hands-on program hall for children to learn modern and contemporary history. In addition to special exhibitions, the museum also offers educational and cultural programs for children.

Inquiry

+82-2-3703-9200

Homepage

Information Use

Contact and Information : • 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-3703-9200

Parking facilities : Not available (use nearby parking lot)

Day off : New Year’s Day, Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day)

Charges : Free

Hours : Regular hours 10:00-18:00
* Wednesdays and Saturdays 10:00-21:00
* Last admission one hour before closing.

Scale : Site area: 6,445 ㎡ / Total building floor area: 10,734 ㎡

Touring Time : Approx. 1 hr - 1 hr 30 min

More information

Collections Status
106,000 pieces (as of late 2015)

Reservation for Foreigners
No reservation required
* Reservation for exhibition explanations for groups of 10 or more: +82-2-3703-9250

Foreign Language Intepretation Services
1F Information Desk: Audio guide available (English, Japanese, Chinese)

Location

198, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Directions

Busan Modern & Contemporary History Museum - Main Building (부산근현대역사관 본관)

Busan Modern & Contemporary History Museum - Main Building (부산근현대역사관 본관)

2025-08-04

112 Daecheong-ro, Jung-gu, Busan

Busan Modern & Contemporary Museum showcases the evolving identity of Busan through various exhibitions and programs. Housed in the former Bank of Korea Headquarters building, the museum's main building is a first-generation Korean architectural building. It features exhibitions and performances by young artists on the basement floor, and houses the Bank of Korea archive room, a café, a lounge and a gift shop on the first floor. The second floor is dedicated to special exhibitions, while the third and fourth floors offer educational spaces and historical exhibitions that trace Busan’s changing identity from the turbulent colonial period to the present day, offering visitors a meaningful glimpse into modern Korean history.

Pencil Museum (연필뮤지엄)

Pencil Museum (연필뮤지엄)

2025-07-24

183-6 Balhan-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do

Pencil Museum, located in Donghae, is the first museum in Korea dedicated to pencils and has a collection of over 3,000 pencils from 100 countries worldwide. The exhibition consists of a pencil history corner and a themed exhibition that displays art pencils and character pencils. The museum also has an experience center where visitors can test out different kinds of pencils and a dedicated collection exhibit area. The 4th floor consists of an art shop and a cafe where one can enjoy the view of the East Sea.

Hanji House (한지가헌)

Hanji House (한지가헌)

2025-07-25

31-9 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hanji House was founded to pass on the cultural heritage of hanji, traditional Korean paper, as well as to promote its excellence and uses in everyday life. The center is operated by Korea Craft & Design Foundation, and offers a variety of programs that consist of exhibitions, hands-on activities, classes, and marketing hanji products. On the first floor is Hanji Showroom, where various exhibitions take place to showcase hanji of the past and the present. The basement floor comprises Hanji Open Archive, Hanji Print Studio, and Hanji Workroom, where most of the hands-on activities and classes are held. Hanji House also offers a docent program for exploring the whole area.

Daldongnae of Olden Times (추억의 달동네)

Daldongnae of Olden Times (추억의 달동네)

2025-05-23

216-8 Bobul-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

The Daldongnae of Olden Times is a modern history theme park that recreates everyday life in Korea during the 1970s-80s, through a variety of vintage products. Visitors can get a glimpse into Korean retro culture as they explore old radios, vintage-style electronic shops and alley shops, and classrooms from that era. The museum also offers retro school uniform rentals and a dalgona experience, allowing visitors to step back into the past.

Netmarble Game Museum (넷마블게임박물관)

Netmarble Game Museum (넷마블게임박물관)

2025-05-14

38 Digital-ro 26-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul

The Netmarble Game Museum offers visitors an opportunity to explore the history and culture of games and discover their social and cultural values. The museum features an exhibition space showcasing a diverse collection of domestic and international, a learning space with various gaming education materials, and a gaming space where visitors can enjoy playing different types of games. The exhibition space is organized around three main themes: game history, game world, and gaming culture. In particular, the Play Collection zone includes classic arcade games, console games, and PC games, allowing children to have fun and adults to reminisce about their memories.

Myungbo Art Hall (명보아트홀)

Myungbo Art Hall (명보아트홀)

2025-04-15

47 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

Located in Euljiro 3(sam)-ga, the heart of Seoul, Myungbo Art Hall is a cultural complex that consists of a professional theatre hall. Renovated from Myungbo Theater in 2009, Myungbo Art Hall is equipped with state-of-the-arts lighting and sound equipment that guarantees high-quality theatre experience for the audience. In addition, the hall also has comfortable seats along with other amenities for the audience's convenience. Myungbo Art Hall aims to globalize Korean performance culture by creating a variety of content that incorporate Korean theatre with tourism. This area is also where the house of Admiral Yi Sun-sin was located, which is honored with a memorial plaque listing his accomplishments.

DOMOHEON (도모헌)

DOMOHEON (도모헌)

2025-04-11

60 Hwangnyeongsan-ro 7beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan

DOMOHEON, the former residence of the Busan Mayor, was transformed into a cultural space and opened to the public in September 2024. The establishment includes a cultural space, shared office, café, lecture hall, meeting room, and various other convenience facilities. It also features a living garden, which is the first living garden in Busan. In the past, it was also referred to as the local Cheong Wa Dae creating an authoritative image. However, with the recent remodeling, it has now become a welcoming space for the public to relax and enjoy cultural activities.

HANSIK Space E:eum (한식문화공간 이음)

2025-06-16

18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

HANSIK Space E:eum, located in Jongno, is a cultural space operated by the Korean Food Promotion Institute. It offers visitors an opportunity to delve into Korean cuisine through exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and a library.

Salon Heritage (살롱헤리티지)

2025-05-26

614 Gyeonggam-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Salon Heritage is a world cultural heritage media promotion hall, located inside the Gyeongju World Expo Memorial, which was designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, drawing inspiration from Daereungwon Ancient Tombs and columnar joints of Gyeongju. It features dynamic media walls, a media tunnel and a world heritage study, offering visitors an immersive digital experience to explore the rich heritage of Gyeongju.

Gyeongju Expo Solgeo Art Museum (경주솔거미술관(솔거미술관))

2025-05-19

614 Gyeonggam-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Gyeongju Expo Solgeo Art Museum is Gyeongju’s first public art museum, opened in 2015 with the donation of 830 works by the Korean painter Park Dae-sung. Designed by the renowned architect Seung H-Sang, the museum’s architecture blends people, space, and nature. It features a permanent exhibition of works by Park Dae-sung, along with special rotational exhibitions by invited artists. For visitors seeking deeper insight into the artwork, the museum offers a docent program. The window in the permanent exhibition hall has become a popular SNS spot and is often referred to as a moving painting.

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