A concentrated area of Korean traditional houses, Bukchon Hanok Village is home to five unique museums that can be visited with a 10,000-won pass. The museums, Gahoe Museum, Hansangsu Embroidery Museum, Dong-Lim Knot Museum, Museum of Korean Buddhist Art, and Seoul Museum of Chicken Art, are all within a 5-minute walking distance of each other, allowing visitors to see them quite easily.
Opened in 2002, Gahoe Museum has on exhibit, folk paintings and amulets reflecting the lifestyle and wishes of the Korean people from ancient times. Inside the Hanok gallery, visitors can immerse themselves in the traditions of Korea. You will find old paintings of the common people, paintings of religious beliefs, and roof tiles in the shape of human beings or goblins. You will also find folding screens made of amulets and see the wisdom of people in the old days to overcome difficult times through a variety of amulets. After viewing, you can participate in regular hands-on programs inside the gallery. For a small fee, you can choose a program of your liking, fan illustration perhaps since you’re such an artist? Some of the Regular Hands-on Programs here include:- Peony T-shirt making, Character painting, picture frame making Fan drawing, Cup saucer drawing, and Dancheong (Colors) card making,
Hansangsu Embroidery Museum has on exhibit embroidery-related relics and the works of Han Sang-su, who has been named an Intangible Cultural Asset. For a small fee of 3,000 won visitors can make an embroidered item. The one-hour program starts with a demonstration by an instructor, after which participants then embroider a handkerchief following the steps of the instructor.
At the Dong-Lim Knot Museum, visitors can not only look at the various knotted works on display but also learn how to make one. The museum displays paired jade butterfly knots symbolizing conjugal harmony; amber knots symbolizing wealth and prosperity; and the pepper knot symbolizing fertility and the birth of sons. There are also eggplant and bat knots. Take part in a knot craft program after viewing the exhibits. It takes only an hour to complete a project. The knot project requires silk cord, so the price of a kit is slightly more expensive than ready-made items that are sold in Insa-dong.
Currently, the Buddhist Art museum does not offer any hands-on programs but you can look at the exhibits here which consist of about 6,000 relics related to Buddhism, including statues, paintings, ceramics, and folk crafts.
Bridging together the spiritual beliefs of both East and West,, the Seoul Museum of Chicken Art exhibits a unique selection of crafts symbolizing both culture and art through animalistic expression. Currently, there are no hands-on programs available.
The Jonginamoo Gallery is a cosy and comfortable space where you can drink traditional tea and take part in a hanji craft experience. The gallery is decorated in muted tones and traditional style with wooden antique furniture and hanji crafts. The one-day hanji craft programs are held outdoors. Classes are available only in Korean, so come with a Korean-speaking friend. The gallery is especially known for its calm, leisurely ambience. If you are not taking a hanji class, you can enjoy a cup of traditional tea and look at the antique furniture and hanji crafts.
Yoo’s Family’s cooking classes teaches visitors Korean dishes like kimchi, bulgogi, pajeon, and tteokbokki, which are popular among foreigners. A minimum of 2 people is required per class. English and Japanese interpretation are provided.Boasting over 600 years of history, Yoo’s Family is situated inside Bukchon Hanok Village, between the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo. The region resonates with a traditional atmosphere as the cozy venue sits nestled amongst traditional Korean hanok houses flush in the middle of Seoul's two main palaces.Yoo’s Family is a Hanok family managed by Yoos, offering traditional culture experiences for foreigners interested in Korean living cultures and traditions. Most classes are short-term courses and reservations can be made up to one day in advance. Reservations are only available for groups of 2 or more and groups of 10 or more may even choose their own times to hold classes. Translation in English and Japanese are available for all courses as well.
The National Museum of Korea is one of the top six world museums so you cannot miss out on this one. Created by the world’s leading IT country, Korea, this museum is a state-of-the-art modern museum. As you enter the museum, you have access to PDAs and MP3s as your detailed guide. Due to its large scale, it’s best to go to their website (www.museum.go.kr) prior to your visit and plan your itinerary. If you plan to visit with children, the Children’s Museum offers exciting educational experiences. The National Museum of Korea is visited by an average of 20,000 visitors on weekdays, and on weekends the museum has about 40,000 visitors. A morning visit on a weekday is highly recommended, for a quieter and more relaxed tour of the museum. The National Museum of Korea holds a collection of approximately 150,000 works of art. The National Museum of Korea offers more than national and international galleries. The museum holds permanent collections of ancient artefacts, historical artefacts, works of art, donations, and Asia related cultural artefacts. Furthermore, the museum also offers exhibition space to feature various cultural works, and an exhibition hall dedicated to children’s learning through exploration activities. The garden outside the museum offers an outdoor exhibition of stone pagodas and a variety of stone constructed relics from history. The museum functions as a cultural complex to hold events and activities related to relics collection and preservation, research and analysis, social training, publishing academic journals, international cultural exchange programs, concerts, and more. Moreover, in addition to educational events and activities, the museum offers environmental friendly space and rest areas, including quality cultural programs to provide entertainment and relaxation for both the young and the old.
I would like to tell you something about Leeum, the Samsung Museum of Art located at the foot of Namsan. We cannot visit today because to visit Leeum, we have to make advance reservations via the internet or telephone. The earliest reservations that can be made is 2 weeks in advance before your visit.
I love the design/architecture of this art museum even before I take a look at the exhibits. They; say two heads are better than one but in this case its three heads are better than one. Designed by internationally renowned architects - Mario Botta from Switzerland, Jean Nouvel from France and Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas the complex is the optimal synthesis of nature and architecture. Leeum is a treasure house of Korea’s traditional art and modern contemporary art. The three buildings that comprise Leeum are a work of art themselves. Museum 1 was designed by the architect Mario Botta, and Museum 2 was designed by the architect Jean Nouvel. Both museums are unique in style. Outside of the museum building at the outdoor terrace, figurative art works are on display.Museum 1 devoted to Korean works of art, displays Korea’s traditional art, such as calligraphy, paintings, ceramic arts, and metal craftwork whereas Museum 2 showcases modern and contemporary works by both Korean and foreign artists, and the Samsung Child Education & Culture Centre contributes to the education of future leaders. It’s just like looking at the past, present and future here.
If you are interested in looking into former royal court life in Korea, then the National Palace Museum of Korea is a great place to start with. The National Palace Museum of Korea began as an Imperial Museum in 1908 within the walls of Changgyeonggung Palace. Today the museum is located next to Gyeongbokgung Palace, and houses approximately 40,000 pieces of historic relics from Korea’s final dynasty, the Joseon Dynasty, and from the royal court. It holds several pieces of designated National Treasures, including the constellation map, the plane sundial, and the pluviometer rod. The exhibitions also include items such as instruments, books, files, furniture, clothes, potteries, and more that were used in the royal chambers.
The National Palace Museum of Korea opened in 1992 displaying relics from the Joseon Dynasty [1392~1910]. Over 20,000 royal relics from Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine are on display:-
1. Royal Symbols and Records –
The Joseon Dynasty attained Confucian ideals, and therefore, the king and his queen were worshipped as parents of all citizens. To elevate their authority, the Joseon royal households crafted various royal symbols.
2. Ancestral Rites –
The royal ancestral rite was held at a royal shrine encompassing the ancestral tablets of the late kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. This was not merely a royal ancestral worshipping ceremony, but also a festival with music and dance, in the hope for the nation's eternal prosperity.
3. Palace Architecture –
The palace was the living quarters of the king and his family as well as the center of administration where the king ruled the nation. The center of the palace in the Joseon Dynasty, according to traditional Oriental architectural planning, was featured at Jeongjeon. The main hall was the center of state events and political discussions, and the Pyeonjeon, the government office.
4. Joseon Sciences - The Joseon Dynasty strove to establish the legitimacy of its foundation to enrich the nation's economy. To attain these ideals, the dynasty unprecedentedly promoted such areas as the sciences and medicine while developing various weapons for national defence.
5. Royal Life - The king and queen were symbolic figures of the Joseon Dynasty, but they were also ordinary people who lived private lives within the palace. The palace was divided into various sections of living space such as the king's office, the queen's quarters, and the prince's study room. Each section contained appropriate pieces of furniture, which were made of the finest quality materials according to well-established criteria for the royal family.
I thought I heard someone mention Daejanggeum and Royal Court Cuisine? Yes, I enjoyed the drama too and all that sumptuous food served. You want to learn how to cook some of those dishes? Well, my friend, you’ve come to the right place!. Here at the Royal Palace Kitchen, situated in the National Palace Museum of Korea Annex 1F, where we are right now, you can enrol for classes. Every Friday, traditional Korean Royal cuisine cooking classes are held.
In case you are thirsty or hungry you can try out the newly opened Gogung Tteurak Café, located inside the palace. Gogung Tteurak consists of a museum shop and a café. The museum shop has on sale a variety of items with a traditional Korean flavor. You can find postcards, small pocket books, umbrellas, cushions, and T-shirts. Right next door, there is a café selling coffee, ginger tea, gukwacha (chrysanthemum tea), mogwacha (quince tea), as well as wild vegetable salad, royal tteokbokki, and royal noodles.
The tour around the National Palace Museum of Korea was refreshing wasn’t it? At least now we know something about the Joseon Dynasty and the royal family.
Known as Korea’s SOHO, Samcheongdong Gallery Street is lined on either side with small and large galleries. Each gallery offers different works of art from hand-made artworks, fashion clothes by young designers, antique artworks, modern artwork and much more.
Samcheong-dong’s galleries include the International Picture Gallery, Hakgojae, SUN Gallery, fifteen Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, Geumho Gallery, Growrich Gallery, Artsonje Center, Gallery Hak Go Jae (another name for Art Space Seoul), Geum San Gallery, Gukje Gallery, Gallery Ihn. Samcheong-dong is the most highly concentrated area of galleries, and also has many pretty cafes and restaurants. I think Samcheong-dong, with its galleries and restaurants makes an ideal fun tour of one of Seoul’s most famous areas.
Samcheongdong Walkway stretches from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Samcheong Tunnel. Samcheongdong Walkway attracts many artists here with its many cafes and restaurants, which quite reminds me of Montmartre in Paris. Samcheong Park, which is located at the end of Samcheongdong Walkway, is famous for its thick forest and splendid views. Located in the middle of the city, this area is quite peaceful.
You can also find the Beopnyeonsa temple, Lee Rhee-za Korean Costume Exhibition Hall, the French Cultural Center and Jeong Dok Library here. Since each art gallery building on Samcheongdong-gil has a unique architectural design, appreciating the buildings themselves can be a nice experience. Many have their own cafes, restaurants, or craft shops, so you can enjoy the paintings, some shopping, and lunch all under one quaint roof.
Though I’m no artist, I love art galleries because I can always admire the art of others exhibited there. The Seoul Museum of Art is home to Korea’s modern works of art and holds approximately sixty artworks by Korea’s renowned artist Chon Kyung-Ja. To reach the Seoul Museum of Art follow the street beside the beautiful stone wall of Deoksugung Palace known as ‘Toldamgil’ which translated means stone wall street. It is particularly beautiful in Autumn with the falling leaves of the golden gingko trees. Located in the heart of Jeongdong Street next to Deoksugung Palace, the SeMA or the Seoul Museum of Art is a cultural space where people can always enjoy the pleasure of art right in the heart of Seoul. On the top of the low hill of the Jeongdong Street there is a besutiful garden with old trees and flowering plants The path to the entrance at SeMA is not fenced up so as to allow the public to enjoy the view of the garden with the sculptures from the outside looking in. In Spring every year, the Spring Outing Exhibition is held here. It’s even more beautiful in the fall when the leaves start to change their colors to crimson and gold. Another part of the museum that attracts most visitors, is the cafeteria (located on the 3rd floor of the main building) in that one can get a clear view of Deoksugung Palace from the two full window walls of the cafeteria. Tea and sandwiches can also be enjoyed in a quiet and cosy atmosphere with nice background music.
In 2006 SeMA hosted an exhibition themed “The People of Picasso” at this venue.. This exhibition included some 140 pieces by Pablo Picasso. Two pieces held by Picasso’s daughter Paloma Picasso and four by art dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler’s art gallery, was opened to the public for the first time ever at the show. The show, the largest ever for the nation of Korea, illuminated the life and works of the celebrated Spanish artist. Pablo Picasso’s work was often categorized into the Blue Period (1901~1904), the Rose Period (1905~1907), and the Synthetic Cubism Period (1912~1919). This exhibition presented 50 large-scale oil paintings representing each period. Rounding out the balance of the exhibit were gouache, pastel and dessin as well as 60 pieces of print work. This exhibition combined exhibits and works from approximately 20 museums, foundations and individuals from around the world and was estimated at 600 billion won.
If you like Korean cuisine you can visit the Kimchi Field Museum in COEX Mall which is a museum devoted entirely to the world famous kimchi, now recognized as one of the world’s five healthiest foods. Here you can learn fascinating facts about the nutritional benefits of kimchi, the making and preservation of kimchi and related displays of historic cooking utensils, storage jars and more. Since its foundation in 1986, the Kimchi Museum has displayed historical relics related to kimchi, different types of kimchi, mock-ups of kimchi-making processes, and information about the efficacy derived from the kimchi fermentation process. Visitors will learn about the origin and history of kimchi through old books, old paintings, and writings. Various types of kimchi crocks, along with traditional kitchen utensils that were used to prepare it will also be introduced as well, various models showing specific types of kimchi that were developed in regions all over Korea. The Kimchi Museum also holds reference rooms, kimchi-tasting rooms (two different kinds of kimchi each month), and a store where you can purchase good kimchi.
The Tteok Kitchen Utensil Museum is divided into a Tteok (rice cake) museum and the utensil museum that recreates kitchen life of the past with a traditional kitchen fully equipped with tools, tableware and earthenware pots (jangdokdae) used to store kimchi.
About 2,000 old Korean kitchen utensils and tteok (rice cake) related items are displayed here and arranged by various themes. The displayed utensils are handmade household necessities that are ingenuous, yet reveal the lifestyle of the working class. The elderly may relive fond childhood memories and the younger generation can experience the wisdom of ancestors through the rare kitchen utensils.
The Tteok Museum opened in 2002, and is the only museum of its kind in Korea. The museum is run by the Institute of Traditional Korean Food, one of Korea’s premier research and educational bodies dedicated to Korea’s national cuisine. The first floor of the museum examines the diverse world of the Korean rice cake, with displays breaking them down by season and preparation method. The second floor, however, looks at the use of rice cakes in the many rites of passage that traditionally marked the lives of Koreans. Tteok is not only one of Korea’s most symbolic foods, but also one of its oldest. If you’re interested in doing more than just looking at the exhibits, you can also enrol in one of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food classes. Three types of courses are offered:- a tteok-making course, kimchi-making course, and traditional food making course
How many of you want to be photographed in a Hanbok to show to the folks back home?
The Insa-dong Tourist Information Center has Hanboks (for adults and children) for rent. You can then take indoor or outdoor photographs (in front of the Center).
You’re going to like this place, it’s your chance to do some shopping here.
Ssamziegil’s strongest point would have to be the numerous galleries located in its building. The numerous galleries exhibit and sell traditional crafts by young artists, pottery, sculptures, bags and shoes. You can see designer scarves, and household goods with traditional designs, furniture made by traditional craftsmen, pottery, and lots more. Ssamziegil’s architecture itself is credited to be a modern contemporary work of art, and proudly stands in its uniqueness along the main street of Insa-dong. Let’s stop by Ssamziegil since we are in Insa-dong for a culturally rich experience. Opened since December 2004, Ssamziegil has been dubbed the 'Special Insa-dong within Insa-dong'. This unique area was designed in such a way by connecting its charming alleys in the form of a spiral-like stairway. As you do your window-shopping through the lovely stores all the way to the top, you will arrive at Haneulmadang where you can get an extraordinarily clear view of the sky. Ssamziegil has over 70 shops including handicraft stores, souvenir shops, art galleries and restaurants.
For you tea lovers this is a ‘must see’ museum. Insa-dong offers various gallery cafes, and free galleries open to the public. Of those, the Beautiful Tea Museum offers world-famous teas and snacks, which visitors can enjoy along with the exhibition. As you enter the museum, the first thing you’ll see is a display of 100 famous world teas including China’s Yunnan boicha tea, oolong tea, and yellow tea. Traditional tea-things are on display at another part of the museum, and on the opposite side is the display of tea-things created by new artists.
There’s a special “Tea Tasting Program” which allows visitors to mix various teas to meet their tastes. The Beautiful Tea Museum has up to 130 types of tea ranging from an assortment of green tea, blue tea, black tea, brown tea, herbal tea, flower tea, and more. Visitors can purchase the various teas or enjoy them on the spot in the café. The museum is a renovated hanok, a traditional Korean house, and the central garden offers an outdoors café where visitors can view the museum while drinking tea Also, in the evenings, the museum offers live classical performances to provide the perfect atmosphere for tea-lovers. The Beautiful Tea Museum exhibition of tea-items is divided into three sections; Korea, China, and Tibet. Visitors can gain an overall understanding of the tea traditions of each country. Also, young ceramists’ artwork is offered for purchase.
Any kids with you on this tour? They will enjoy themselves at this place we’re going to next.Most museums do not allow hands-on experience, but the Funique House offers exhibitions that you can touch and play with. All the items are so unique; they arouse the curiosities of children and adults alike. Many of the items are ideas of daily necessities, and cannot be found elsewhere. Through a hands-on experience, children can develop their creativity and adults can have fun guessing at the purpose of the exhibitions. The Funique House also reveals the hidden science behind objects. Funique House is divided into five themes; sound, daily life, science, light, and movement. The Sound Hall exhibits various objects that make fun, unique sounds. Daily Life Hall displays ideas for daily necessities that cannot be found anywhere else. The Science Hall is where visitors can try out various science theories found in science books. The Light Hall offers a display of lights and the Movement Hall offers various movements for visitors to observe.
The Funique House has two locations. The first one is smaller in scale located at Hongik University’s main building. The second one is larger in scale and located at Seocho.
Sorry this next place does not qualify as a museum or gallery but I included it because they offer about 9 types of hands-on courses here. In case you didn't see anything you liked at the other places we went to, you might find something here that you like. So here's your last chance to experience the Korean culture.
The Korea House is a place where international visitors to Korea can taste traditional Korean food, get hands-on cultural experiences, and attend engaging Korean folk performances. The Korea House is easily accessible through a wooden gate from the Namsangol Hanok Village in Pildong, Seoul. Established to promote traditional Korean culture to tourists, this cultural complex offers traditional cuisine, performances, and handicrafts. The programs offered are Kimchi making, Traditional knot making, Mask making, Hanji craft, Traditional tea ceremony, Taekgyeon (Martial art), Samullori, Buchaechum dance and Danso instrument. These facilities are housed in an old hanok that was previously owned by a scholar of the early Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910). It was later remodelled in court architectural style to fully reflect a traditional atmosphere. The Korea House offers nine traditional hands-on cultural programs, including kimchi making, hanji craft, and traditional dance. All programs last about two hours.
Though the classes are conducted only in Korean, foreigners can take part in most of the programs except for the traditional tea ceremony. It is easy to follow the demonstration of the instructors. To participate, simply choose a program and time, and then call to make a reservation. You can choose up to 2 or3 programs at a timeIn addition to the traditional hands-on programs, the Korea House is also famous for its traditional art performances.. Currently, there are eight regular programs offered, ranging from traditional music to dance and traditional vocal art which includes the Myeongin Myeongchang performance (available during the 7pm program only) featuring Korea’s top artists, the intangible cultural assets performing dance or pansori and traditional musical instrument. It will be a great opportunity to meet with the country’s leading artists in their own special fields.
Housed in the annex building of The Korea House, the Korean restaurant offers traditional, full-course hanjeongsik Korean cuisine. The annex building itself is interesting with its unique traditional ambience. As such, it has been a favorite filming location for many Korean dramas and movies. The food is based on traditional noblemen’s cuisine of the Seoul and Gyeonggi-do areas; it also includes court cuisine served to the kings. The restaurant offers jeonsik course meals consisting of daeha-gui (grilled king prawn), kkotge-jjim (steamed blue crab), gujeolpan (dish of nine dishes), and sinseollo (Food of the Mountain Gods), as well as the more affordable lunch special menu.
Well guess that’s about it for today. That was enjoyable wasn’t it? Glad you came along? This should change your opinions about museums I hope.
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