Seoul Museum of Art (Seosomun Main Building)

At the end of the Deoksugung stone-wall road stands a red-brick facade with three round arches: the Seosomun main building of the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA). The front is a 1928 courthouse, and behind it sit modern galleries for contemporary art. Most exhibitions are free, so it is an easy stop on a walk around City Hall and Jeongdong.

History: from courthouse to art museum

This was once the site of Pyeongniwon, the highest court of the Korean Empire. Under Japanese colonial rule the Gyeongseong Courthouse was completed here in November 1928, and after liberation the building served for decades as Korea's Supreme Court. When the court moved to Seocho-dong in 1995, the city kept only the arched front section, rebuilt everything behind it and opened the museum's main building in May 2002. The surviving facade became a registered national cultural heritage in 2006.

The museum itself opened in 1988 on the grounds of Gyeonghuigung Palace. Today Seosomun is the flagship of a network of branches across Seoul, including Buk-Seoul, Nam-Seoul (in the former Belgian consulate) and a photography museum.

What to see

• The facade: granite and brown tiles framing three round-arched entrances. The design follows Gothic models but uses round arches instead of pointed ones.
• Galleries: three floors of exhibition space alternating between Korean contemporary art and international shows. The programme changes often, so check what is on before you go.
• Collection: works by Kim Whanki, Yoo Youngkuk, Nam June Paik, Lee Ufan and Park Seo-bo, plus works donated by painter Chun Kyung-ja in 1998 and a donated collection centred on Minjung (people's) art.
• Forecourt: steps and a lawn that make a good break on the Deoksugung wall walk.

Good to know

• The building where Korea's most important trials were held for decades is now a museum anyone can walk into for free.
• Its cladding of granite and tiles is said to have become a model for many government buildings built afterwards.
• The building has three floors above ground and one basement, a reinforced-concrete and brick structure dressed in a modern Gothic style.

Nearby

• Deoksugung Palace: about 250 m away. Follow the stone-wall road to combine palace and museum.
• Gyeonggyojang: Kim Ku's last residence, about 1 km towards Seodaemun, a good next stop for modern history.
• Hwangudan Altar: across from City Hall, around ten minutes on foot.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: Tue–Thu 10:00–20:00, Fri 10:00–21:00, weekends and public holidays until 19:00 in summer and 18:00 in winter. Last entry one hour before closing. Closed Mondays and 1 January.
• Admission: free; only some special exhibitions charge a fee.
• Getting there: Line 1 City Hall Station, Exit 1, or Line 2 City Hall Station, Exits 10, 11 or 12, then a short walk. Seodaemun Station (Line 5) Exit 5 and Gwanghwamun Station Exit 6 also work.
• Time needed: 1–2 hours for one exhibition. Late opening on Fridays makes it an easy evening visit.