The National Palace Museum of Korea, located on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, houses a collection of over 900 relics and 40,000 artifacts from the royal court of Joseon Dynasty palaces including Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Jongmyo.
Originally, the museum was known as the Korean Imperial Museum when it opened on the grounds of Changgyeonggung in 1908.
Over the years the name has changed named multiple times. During the Japanese occupation in the late 1930s, it was known as the Museum of Yi Dynasty. In 1946, it changed names to the Deoksugung Museum, after the liberation of Korea.
Finally in 2005, it was renamed the National Palace Museum Of Korea and relocated to the grounds of Gyeongbokgung.
On the first floor you can find displays about royal childbirth, education, and scholarly culture. There are also displays from the Korean Empire including vehicles, photographs, and everyday items that belonged to an emperor. There is also a cafe and shop to buy souvenirs on the first floor.
On the second floor there are exhibitions of the Joseon Dynasty including ceremonial relics, royal seals, clothing, paintings, musical instruments, architectural relics, astronomical devices, royal attire, and water clock.
Down in the basement, visitors can find exhibitions of Joseon music and instruments, paintings, royal ceremonial objects, and a reproduction of a famous self-striking water clock.
Hours
Weekdays : 9:00-18:00
Weekends and Holidays : 9:00-19:00
Last admission 1 hour before closing time.
Free guided tours in English are available at 11:00 and 14:30. Tours start at the information desk on the 2nd floor and take approximately 1 hour.
Closed on Mondays.
Admission
Free.
A ticket for Gyeongbokgung Palace is not required.
Getting Here
The museum is located at the southwest corner of Gyeongbokgung.
Option 1
Take Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 5).
Option 2
Take Subway Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station (Exit 2).
Map
Additional Resources
Rakuten
Save money while exploring Seoul with Rakuten's cashback program. By booking hotels through Rakuten, visitors can earn cashback rewards and enjoy significant savings. Exclusive partnerships and deals make stays in Seoul more affordable, freeing up funds for attractions, dining, and other experiences. I use Rakuten for cashback on all of my hotel stays in Seoul.
If you sign up using the link below, you will get $30 cashback after your first purchase.
Klook
Klook is a reliable online platform offering discounted tickets and reservations for attractions and services in Seoul. It covers theme parks, museums, transportation, WiFi, tours, and more. Travelers can save time and money by booking through Klook's user-friendly interface, with secure transactions and helpful customer support.
If you sign up using the link below, you will get $5 off your first order.
Learn more about Klook