Seoul Museum of History

Right in front of Gyeonghuigung Palace, a short walk west of Gwanghwamun, the Seoul Museum of History traces more than 600 years of the city, from Joseon-era Hanyang to the boom years of modern Seoul, under one roof. Admission is free, and with a huge model of the city, a model of an old street and a tram that ran through Seoul until 1968, it is a good place to visit early in a trip to understand how the city fits together.

History: a city museum since 2002

Plans for the museum began in 1985; construction started in 1993 and finished in 1997, and the museum officially opened on 21 May 2002. The site was once part of Gyeonghuigung Palace, so the project drew criticism over damage to heritage. Today it is the head institution of a network of branches including Gyeonghuigung, Gyeonggyojang House, the Cheonggyecheon Museum, the Seoul City Wall Museum and Dilkusha.

What to see

• Permanent exhibition (3rd floor): four zones follow Seoul chronologically: Joseon-era Hanyang, the open-port and Korean Empire years, colonial Gyeongseong under Japanese rule, and the high-growth decades after liberation. QR codes on exhibits give explanations in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.
• City model hall: a vast model of Seoul at 1:1,500, with lighting and projections, shows at a glance how the river, mountains and city centre connect.
• Yukjo Street model: a 1:120 model of the ministry street that once lined the approach to Gwanghwamun, a nice comparison with today's Gwanghwamun Square.
• Tram No. 381: displayed outside the entrance, this streetcar ran through Seoul from 1930 to 1968. It is one of only two trams left in the city and a registered national heritage item.
• Collection: the museum holds many items designated as Seoul cultural heritage, including an orchid painting by the Heungseon Daewongun, blue-and-white porcelain and old maps of the capital. Special exhibitions change regularly.

Nearby

• Gyeonghuigung Palace: a Joseon secondary palace right behind the museum, run as one of its branches; rarely crowded and pleasant for a quiet walk.
• Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbokgung: about 10 minutes' walk east, ideal straight after the Yukjo Street model.
• Gyeonggyojang House: where the independence leader Kim Gu lived after liberation, another branch a short walk towards Seodaemun.
• Deoksugung stone-wall road: the walk heading south links up with Jeong-dong for a half-day route.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), Fridays until 21:00. Evening opening is sometimes extended for set periods, so check the website. Closed Mondays and 1 January, but open when a Monday is a public holiday.
• Admission: the permanent exhibition is free. Audio guides in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese are lent free at the ground-floor desk against an ID.
• Getting there: buses stop at Seoul Museum of History / Gyeonghuigung right outside. By subway it is about 10 minutes on foot from Gwanghwamun or Seodaemun stations on Line 5.
• Time needed: allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours for the permanent galleries and the city model. Bags can be left at the cloakroom by the main entrance.