National Palace Museum of Korea
국립고궁박물관
A national museum inside Gyeongbokgung's walls, at the south-west corner. It holds what the buildings alone cannot show — royal seals, the court protocol records, palanquins, the water clock. Saturdays and the last Wednesday of each month are the only nights it stays open to 21:00.
Language
Place information
- Korean name
- 국립고궁박물관
- Address
- 12 Hyoja-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03045
- Opening hours
- Mon~Fri·Sun 09:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00) Sat 09:30–21:00 (last entry 20:30)
- Closed
- Jan 1 · Seollal · Chuseok · last Mon of the month (closed the following day instead if it falls on a public holiday)
- Hours notes
- The last Wednesday of each month also runs to 21:00 with last entry at 20:30. That is a monthly rule rather than a weekday one, so it is not in the table above.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Admission
- Free
Prices
| Admission | FreeThe museum states admission is free until it announces otherwise. |
|---|
Source: National Palace Museum of Korea — visitor information ·
Nearby
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Best for a first palace visit in Seoul; allow time for the central halls and check the official schedule before adding a guard ceremony.
Tosokchon Samgyetang
A samgyetang house west of Gyeongbokgung, worked into a remodelled hanok in Chebu-dong; its menu also runs to black-bone chicken and lacquer-tree chicken.
National Museum of Korean Contemporary History
Across from Gwanghwamun Square, covering Korea since the ports opened in 1876. Where the Seoul Museum of History takes the city, this takes the country, so the two do not overlap. Wednesday and Saturday are the only days it runs to 21:00.
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
The city-run performing arts centre across from Gwanghwamun Square, running several halls beside its main theatre. It sits where a day spent between Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun already ends.
Stories about this place
- Six in Jongno, and the Evening Each One Opens
Six national and city institutions sit within walking distance of Gyeongbokgung, and no two of them run their late evening on the same schedule. The Palace Museum opens Saturday, the Seoul Museum of History Friday, MMCA Seoul and the contemporary-history museum Wednesday and Saturday, the Folk Museum on Wednesdays from March to October. Only Jogyesa publishes no hours at all.
Nearby Food
- Five Seoul Korean Barbecue Restaurants: Hanwoo, Galbi, Bulgogi and Pork Belly
- What the broth is made of — eight Seoul houses, seven different bases
- Northern Korean Food in Seoul: Naengmyeon, Eobok-jaengban, Mandu and Kongbiji
- Seven Seoul houses that open for breakfast — before eight in the morning
- Six Seoul houses that make the noodle by hand — kalguksu, guksi, sujebi
- Enjoying Seoul's Cafe Culture
Travel Guides
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