National Science Museum

In Daejeon, the science city that grew up around the Daedeok research district, one of the biggest draws is the National Science Museum. Dinosaur skeletons, an engine from Korea's Nuri rocket and the history of Korean science share one large campus, and most of the permanent galleries are free. With children a day goes quickly, and adults can easily spend half a day.

History: from Namsan to Daedeok

The museum traces its roots to a science museum opened in 1927 at the foot of Namsan in Seoul. It became the national science museum after liberation, but lost most of its building and specimens in the Korean War. It reopened in 1962, and in 1972 a new main building designed by architect Kim Swoo-geun opened. A plan to move it to the Daedeok research complex followed, and in 1990 it reopened here as the National Science Museum, next to Daejeon's Expo Science Park.

What to see

• Science and Technology Hall: an everyday-science zone in the basement, physics, chemistry and life-science galleries on the first floor, and the Hall of Korean Science and Technology History on the second, which is especially interesting for international visitors. Allow about 90 minutes.
• Natural History Hall and Human Evolution Hall: Korea's natural history, with an average visit of about 60 minutes. The human evolution gallery is on the second floor. The museum's triceratops skeleton is a children's favourite.
• Future Technology Hall: the industrial revolution on the first floor and "Future Life" on the second. The museum also displays a 75-tonne-class engine from Korea's Nuri space rocket.
• Children's Science Hall and Biological Discovery Hall: spaces where young children can touch and play.
• Planetarium and Observatory: the domed planetarium is ticketed; the observatory is free.
• Outdoor exhibits: a maglev history hall, a space science park, a history plaza and a children's science playground are spread around the grounds.

The museum in numbers and events

The museum has kept growing since the move to Daejeon. The Biological Discovery Hall opened in 2008, the Creative Narae Hall in 2011, the KkumAty Hall in 2012 and the Space Science Park in 2013. In 2017 it welcomed about 1.8 million visitors.

It is also the stage for national science events. It runs the National Science Exhibition, held since 1949, and the National Student Invention Contest, held since 1979. On the second weekend of April, Science Day turns the whole campus into a festival of hands-on booths, talks and performances.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: 09:30–17:30 (last tickets 17:00). Closed Mondays, 1 January and on Seollal and Chuseok days; if it opens on a public holiday, it closes the next day.
• Tickets: general admission is free. The Creative Narae Hall, KkumAty Hall and the planetarium charge a fee and need booking, which opens at midnight 30 days before your visit.
• Time needed: 2–3 hours for the main free galleries, half a day or more with the ticketed halls and outdoor area.
• When to go: weekends and school holidays are busy with families. In April, Korea's science month, the museum hosts the Science Day festival.
• Nearby: Expo Science Park and Hanbat Arboretum are close, an easy full-day combination.
• Phone: +82 42-601-7979.