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Cultural Centers
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Deoksugung Palace
Address :
Seokjojeon Building, Deoksugung Palace, 5-1 Jeong-dong, Jung-gu,
Seoul
Description :
Deoksu Palace
Art Center was originally built as an annex to the National Modern
Art Center. It specializes in seeking out and researching modern
art, and also in exhibiting and preserving them. You can see
classical works of modern art when you visit Deoksugung Palace Art
Center. Because it uses the Seokjojeon annex inside the Deoksugung
Palace as its exhibition space, the center maintains a unique
traditional atmosphere to it. On the first floor are the
administrative office and the audiovisual room, and the second floor
has planned exhibitions of modern art in exhibition rooms one and
two. The third floor has exhibitions three and four, where works
selected as best modern art by the National Modern Art Center are
displayed all year around. You can see modern works such as paints
in Indian ink, colorings, oil paintings, and sculptures. Deoksugung
Palace Art Center has “Art Center With the Citizens” as its motto.
Besides the exhibitions, the center has various performances such as
music and mime. Lectures or seminars on artist’s works are also held
often and are popular with tourists. The “Citizen’s Park” outside
the Art Center is frequented by many people who go there to relax.
Tourists can take a breather here as well, so be sure to make use of
it.
Directions :
Get off at
City Hall station (Seoul Subway Line 1 or Line 2). Exit 1 or 2, and
walk straight for about 5 minutes.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)779-5310-2 (Kor)
2. Homepage: http://www.moca.go.kr (Kor/Eng/Jap/Chi)
3. Hours: *Mar - Oct : 09:00-17:30
Nov - Feb : 09:00-16:30
4. Closed: Every Monday
5. Admission Fee: Free (There is fee for Deoksugung Palace)
6. Deoksugung Palace Fee :
Ages 25-64 : 700won / Ages 7-24 :300won / Age 6 and under,
Age 65 and older : free
7. Facilities: Audiovisual Room, Coffee Shop, Art Shop
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Dongsung Art Center
Address : 1-5
Dongsung-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
The main
feature of Dongsung Art Center is that it accepts various cultural
genres. Movies, plays, dances and traditional Korean music (Gukak)
that are artistic and experimental are mainly held here. The main
facilities are the Dongsung Hall, the Studio Theater, the
Cinematheque, Hypertheque NADA, etc. Dongsung Hall is the
performance theater where you can watch performances such as plays,
dances, concerts, and enjoy the audiovisual and musical
performances. Located on the B1 floor of the Art Center, it has a
capacity of 450 people on the 1st floor and the 2nd floor balcony.
The Studio Theater is on the 5th floor. It boasts a stage set that
can be easily changed to fit the performance features. There are 150
seats in the small theater. Dongsung Cinematheque has two theaters
and the Cinecafe, which is decorated with movie related accessories.
At Cinecafe you can relax in the unique atmosphere of a movie
theater due to these decorations. The most eye-catching facility at
Dongsung Art Center is the Hypertheque NADA, which is on the 1st
floor. It was named to mean ‘the theater of the audience’. Here you
can spend the night watching various movies from the bizarre. In
this theater you can find 147 names of the cultural celebrities on
the seats. You’ll be able to sit in a chair with a celebrity’s name
written on it. At the Hypertheque Character Shop you will find the
‘NADA’ character and various movie character products. After
browsing around the shop, you can go to the cafe for tea and snacks.
There you can relax in the tranquil space of the cultural atmosphere
of the art center.
Directions :
At Hyehwa
Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), exit No.1, walk into the alley
between the flower shop and convenience store. 3 minutes walk.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)766-3390 (Kor)
2. Homepage: http://www.dsartcenter.co.kr/ (Kor)
3. Hours: Depends on the programs
4. Open all year
5. Admission Fee: Depends on the programs
6. Facilities: Character Shop, Café, Parking Lot
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Dongsung Cinematheque
Address : 185
Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
Dongsung
Cinematheque is the first experimental theater in Korea. The
artistic movies, which are hard to find, are selected and shown
here. Other artistic movies or movies that are deemed to be of
positive influence to the audience are shown here. This is a special
theater with 3,000 members. This shows that the Dongsung
Cinematheque is loved by maniacs. Focusing on these movie lovers,
movie commentaries are published and seminars and forums are often
held. 35mm movies are shown here. It has two theaters with a
capacity of 250 people and a movie cafe, decorated as a movie
theater called the ‘Cinecafe’. There are other convenient facilities
for the audience. But starting from 2000, the art center is trying
to meet with more audience by showing more movies of other genres
and popular movies. At Dongsung Cinematheque there is space for
forums after watching movies, which are usually held at the Cinecafe
on the B2 floor of the Cinematheque. Visitors who come for the first
time can get free coffee. A place to watch rare movies and have free
coffee not a bad deal.
Directions :
At Hyehwa
Station (Seoul Subway Line No.4) exit No.1, walk straight for 2
minutes towards Hyehwa Rotary.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02) 741-3391 (Kor)
2. Homepage: http://www.dsartcenter.co.kr/ (Kor)
3. Hours: First show 11:00 / Last show 20:30
4. Open all year
5. Admission Fee: 7,000 won
6. Facilities: Ticket Box, Cafe, Parking Lot
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Gana Art Gallery
Address : 97
Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
The Gana Art
Gallery is located on Mt. Bukhansan. This gallery has the largest
floor space in the country. Designed by world-renowned architect
Jean-Michel Wilmotte, it displays the best in modern western design.
As Jean-Michel Wilmotte is the architect responsible for the design
of Inchon International Airport, the Gana Art Gallery should be
considered an art piece itself. The interior has been built
optimally for displaying art exhibits.
The hidden lighting from the ceiling is luxurious and clean. The Art
Center consists of three exhibit halls on two floors. The
versatility of the exhibit halls allows many exhibits or events to
be held. The first exhibit hall is operated as a memorial of late
artists, and displays their work. The second and third event halls
are used for planned events. It is quite cozy despite its size. Plus
it has a cutting-edge sound system and can hold classical or large
musical performances and events with famous performers. The outdoor
performance stage is also a noticeable feature of the Gana Art
Center. With a capacity of about 300, it features many diverse
events like music, dance, plays and others. The best part is that it
is open to the public. The restaurant and accommodations are
excellent, and the state of the art information center makes it a
place worth visiting often. It is also a great place for tourists
who want to experience the cultural flavor of Korea and rest in a
cozy setting. The beautiful scenery of the open sculpture park is
quite different from the city. The pine trees and terraces located
near the seats of the outside performance stage are also quite
pretty. If you visit the restaurant, looking at the ancient
sculptures will allow for a unique dining experience immersed in the
flavor of traditional Korean culture. The restaurant menu includes
pasta, seafood dishes and over 80 different wines from around the
world. The Gana Art Gallery has been built on the hills by the
outskirts of the Mt. Bukhansan, in order to display traditional
Korean art in a beautiful setting. It shows how important the
harmony of nature and art is to this place. Pyeongchang-dong, the
district where it is located is mostly a residential area, almost
devoid of skyscrapers and business buildings. After the gallery,
taking a tour around town will help greatly in understanding the
traditional culture of Korea.
Directions :
At
Gyeongbokgung Station(Seoul Subway Line 3), exit toward Sangmyeong
University. Then take City Bus No.135 , and get off at Pyeongchang-dong
Olympia Hotel.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)720-1020/ (02)3216-1020
2. Hours: 10:00-19:00
3. Homepage: http://www.ganaartgallery.com(Kor)
4. Closed: not specified
5. Admission Fee: Age 20 and over: 2,000 won / Age 14-19: 1, 000 won
6. Facilities: Restaurant
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Geumho Art Hall
Address : 3F
Geumho Building, 57 Sinmunno 1(il)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
Geumho Art
Hall was built exclusively for classical music concerts. It is
located on the cultural street by Gwanghwamun. With 315 seats, it
has the perfect structure for chamber concerts. All seats are
recital hall chairs and the wide spacing between rows of chairs
helps the audience to have a pleasant time. Portable chairs are also
provided for the handicapped. Once you enter the theater, your cell
phones will turn off automatically. This will help you to enjoy the
concert without being interrupted by ringing cell phones. The
interior is cozy and luxurious, and the stage is made of maple. 150
concerts are held yearly. You can also view the art exhibits
displayed at the reception hall. If you are lucky, you will be able
to view the art exhibits after watching the concerts. Near Geumho
Art Hall there are other cultural facilities such as Sejong Center
for the Performing Arts or Kyobo Bookstore.
Directions :
At
Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5) Exit No.7. Between the
Saemunan Church and the Gusegun Hall (Salvation Army Hall). 3
minutes walk.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02) 6303-1919 (Kor)
2. Homepage: http://www.musiana.com/arthall_intro.html (Kor)
3. Hours: Depends on the program
4. Closed: No set dates
5. Admission Fee: Depends on the program
6. Facilities: Information Desk, Parking Lot
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Gyeongin Art Gallery
Address :
30-1 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
Gyeongin Art
Gallery is located at the center of Insadong, Seoul. Insadong is
famous as a traditional culture street. The Gyeongin Art Gallery is
a cultural ground for the artists and is also a tourist attraction.
It is divided into three gallery halls, an outdoor gallery hall, an
outdoor stage where many events take place, a screen, and finally a
traditional teahouse. People love this place because it is where
artists can meet, exhibit their art pieces, and where tradition and
modern culture intermingle. The first gallery of Gyeongin Art
Gallery is composed of two floors. It is the largest gallery hall in
Gyeongin Art Gallery. The pleasant and spacious gallery hall is
quite striking; it excellently accomplishes all kinds of
exhibitions. The second gallery hall can be divided into three
floors, a greenhouse, and a terrace. First of all, this gallery hall
is made entirely of glass. Natural sunlight warms up the room. It is
a place where the artificial steel frames and the naturalness of the
indoor trees create an exquisite harmony. The plane artistry and
cubic artistry is exhibited to its fullest effect here. The third
art gallery hall is in the form of a Korean house, which looks great
together with the outside garden. It is a place that incorporates
the beauty of a traditional Korean house. If you are interested in
traditional Korean housing, you should visit there. It is especially
famous for its crafts, paintings, and Korean style arts. Apart from
all these there is an art and craft shop. At the art and craft shop
you can buy and view the art pieces and props of many talented
artists’ wood printing and paintings. It is beloved by many due to
the fact that here you can experience the lives of currently active
artists. At Gyeongin Art Gallery there are two places where you can
enjoy refreshments. One place is the ‘teahouse’. At the teahouse you
can feel the aroma of the four seasons breathing with you. The
delicacies of the shop are the diverse herb teas and the natural
fruit ice cream. If you treat yourself with the natural fruit ice
cream along with the aroma of the herb tea, surely all your fatigue
will melt away. If you want to try a different traditional tea
place, you should visit ‘Dawon’. The sublime sound of the
hanging-bell at the roof’s edge and the beauty of traditional Korean
style housing will make you feel like you are in a Korean temple. At
‘Dawon’ there are 15 different kinds of traditional Korean teas. And
since one can enjoy the sculptures of the garden while drinking, it
is widely visited both by Koreans and foreigners.
Directions :
At Anguk
Station (Seoul Subway Line 3) exit No. 6, (Jongno Police Station
direction) walk for 10 minutes in the direction of Sudo Pharmacy.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)733-4448
2. Hours: 10:00-19:00
3. Homepage: http://www.kyunginart.co.kr
4. Holidays: None
5. Admission fee: Differs according to program
6. Facilities: Teahouse
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Hanbok Museum
Address : 74
Sagon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
The Hanbok
Museum is located across the street from Gyeongbok Palace main
entrance ticketing booth. For this reason, it makes sense for anyone
who has just completed looking around the palace to drop by this
place as well to get a look at the traditional Korean clothes, if
the visiting time fits. The museum only opens on the first and the
third Saturday of every month, so make sure you do not walk there
for nothing on the wrong days. The Hankbok Museum is not just a
museum showing off Korean clothes. It shows all the events and the
rituals people go through from birth to death, and what proper
clothing they have to wear. You can witness in one view what proper
Korean traditions are and what fitting clothes those occasions
demand. All the hanboks at the museum are created by the hanbok
designer Lee Ri-Ja herself, made with care and great attention to
detail. All together there are about 300 kinds on display, and some
are practical enough to be worn for daily living now. Besides
hanboks, there are also ornaments and other small articles on
display. You will fall in love with many of the beautiful ornaments
you see. Once you have visited Gyeongbok Palace and Hanbok Museum,
try visiting Gwanghwa-mun or Insa-dong. At Gwanghwa-mun, you can
enjoy different kinds of modern Korean cultural activities, and at
Insa-dong, you can experience traditional Korean art and culture.
Directions :
Get off at
Anguk station (subway line 3), exit no. 1. walk for about 10
minutes. Or, get off at Gyeongbokgung station (subway line 3), go
towards Gyeongbok Palace front gate, walk for about 5 minutes.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)732-5454 (Kor)
2. Homepage: N/A
3. Hours: 10:00-17:00
4. Open: Every 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month only
5. Admission Fee: free
6. Facilities: Hanbok shops
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Hoam Gallery
Address : 7
Sunhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Description :
Hoam Gallery
specializes in collecting a variety of modern art works and
exhibiting them, and they hold six to seven exhibits a year. The
gallery has exhibition rooms, video rooms, an art shop, and resting
rooms. The exhibition rooms are very large, and going around it once
takes on the average about 40 minutes to an hour. There have been
important exhibits featuring Chagall, Daegoryeo National Treasures,
Baek Nam-Jun, Korean Art through portraits, and many other
significant exhibits. Exhibition seminars, audio guides, gallery
lectures, and presentations are also held frequently, with the
intent to make its audience understand art more easily and deeply.
If you are busy and are not free until the evening, plan to visit
the gallery on a Thursday, as the hours are extended to 9 pm on that
day. Hoam Gallery ticket will enable you to visit the Rodin Gallery
as well, making it doubly profitable. The reverse is true as well –
you can visit Hoam gallery with a Rodin gallery ticket as well.
After going through the exhibits, you can buy simple souvenirs at
the art shop. Near Hoam gallery on Taepyeong street, there are many
other cultural facilities, such as Seokgok Art Center, Ilmin Art
Center, Rodin Gallery, Jeongdong theater, Deoksu Palace Art Center,
and Seoul Municipal Art Center, and more. They are all interesting
and worth taking the time to visit.
Directions :
Get off at
City Hall station (subway line 1 and 2), exit no. 9, and walk 3
minutes towards Seosomun intersection.
Information :
1. Telephone:
02-750-7875 (Kor)
2. Homepage: http://www.sfoc.org (Samsung Foundation of Culture
homepage)
3. Hours: 10:00-18:00 (every Thursday 10:00-21:00)
4. Closed: Every Monday
5. Admission Fee: age 20 or older - 4,000 won (group of 10 or more,
2,000 won)
Age 19 or under - 2,000 won (group of 10
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Hwangi Art Museum
Address :
210-8 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
The Hwangi
Art Museum was opened to honor the works of the painter, Kim Hwan-Gi.
Kim Hwan-Gi (1913-1974) was Korea's top artist of modernism. He
began painting abstract paintings in 1930, and in 1950 began using
nature as his motivation to portray the emotions of Korea. Kim Hwan-Gi
was famous for his unforgettable pieces. He is the role model for
many young aspiring artists in Korea. On the first floor of the
museum there is an art shop with scarves, ties, and other various
products with Kim's designs are available for purchase. Upon
entering the exhibits all bags must be checked in at the front desk.
As you enter, aside from the paintings and art pieces, the most
eye-popping sight is the beautifully decorated windows. You cannot
help but marvel at their beauty. For those that are tired and need
rest, there is a rest area on the second floor. There is a nice
outdoor view from this area. Outside you can go for a walk on the
trail. As you walk up the narrowing trail you will see a pond, and
at the end of the trail you will enter a wooded area where you can
rest.
Directions :
At
Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3) exit 3, or Gwanghwamun
Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), in front of Korea Telecom, take City
Bus #59, #135, #135-1, #135-3, or #136-1, and get off at Buam-dong
Office. The museum is a two-minute walk from there.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)391-7701-2
2. Homepage: http://www.whankimuseum.org (Currently under
construction)
3. Hours: Mar-Oct: 10:00-18:00
Nov-Feb: 10:00-17:00
4. Closed: Mondays, Jan 1, Lunar New Years, Chuseok
5. Admission Fee:
Age 20 or older - 1000 won
Age under 20 - 500 won
6. Facilities: Cafe, Art Shop, Walking Trail
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Ilmin Art Museum
Address : 139
Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
The Ilmin Art
Museum stands in the former Dongah Newspaper Building. The Dongah
Newspaper was established in 1926 and has been in the building for
66 years. This building has been established as the oldest building
associated with the press in Korea. The building was shut down for a
year due to renovations and re-opened in 1996. The museum has
maintained its look of tile floors and glass walls through the
years. This museum boasts the largest Ilmin collection in Korea.
From the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) there are 430 pieces of the Ilmin
collection, 1,200 pieces of the Dongah Newspaper's collection of
art, and 100 pieces of art owned by Hyundai Corporation. The Ilmin
Collection mostly consists of pieces that Kim Sang-Man collected.
Most of the pieces are very simple aesthetic paintings. The Dongah
Newspaper's collection has time-relevant pieces that are important
for history. Hyundai's collection are mostly paintings of social
critiques. In the basement of the museum there is an art shop where
original paintings can be purchased.
Directions :
At
Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5) or Jonggak station (Seoul
Subway Line 1), a five minute walk (across from the Kyobo Building).
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02) 2020-2055
2. Homepage: http://www.ilmin.or.kr (Kor/Eng)
3. Hours: 11:00-21:00
4. Closed: Mondays
5. Admission Fee: *Ages over 20: 2,000 won, *19 and under: 1,000 won
6. Facilities: Cafe, Art shop
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Information provided by Korea National Tourism Organization.
