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Cultural Centers
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Insa Art Space
Address : 3F
Insa Art Center, 188 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
Insa Art
Space was established by the government to support artists who are
experiencing financial difficulties. Opened in May 26th, 2000, the
total exhibit maintenance fee is provided by the government. It is
recognized as one of the more successful national art support
policies. Mostly experimental and progressive artworks are exhibited
here to activate the art. Curators research the present state of the
art circles. Also various open exhibit projects are held to find new
talented artists. The newly chosen artists for the events can
exhibit their work here free of charge for two weeks. These events
are held to help the poor artists who cannot start their art career.
You can visit here without doubting the sincerity of the exhibited
artwork. The displayed works are valued for their quality only.
Annually 2-3 internal exhibitions and international exhibitions are
held, and symposiums and “dialogues with artists” are also often
held. Currently there is one curator and two assistant curators.
Insa Art Space in a great place for travelers who want to have long
daily tours. Most galleries close between 5-6pm, but Insa Art Space
is open till 7-8pm. It is also located in the traditional Korean
street, Insadong, so there will be plenty of things to do and see
while visiting this gallery.
Directions :
At Anguk
Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), exit No.6 (Jongno Police Office
direction). 5 minute walk.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02) 760-4720-3 (Kor)
2. Homepage: http://www.insaartspace.or.kr (Kor/Eng)
3. Hours: *Mar.- Oct.: 11:00-20:00
Nov.- Feb.: 11:00-19:00
4. Closed: No set dates
5. Admission Fee: Free
6. Facilities: Cafe, Art Shop, Parking Lot
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Jeongdong Cultural
Art Center
Address :
15-5 Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Description :
Jeongdong
Cultural Art Center is located on the old, romantic Jeongdong
Street. It is usually used for performances and movie premieres. The
inside is one big hall furnished with seats on the 1st and 2nd
floor, with a capacity of 600 seats. The beveled seats have large
gaps between the rows, making it spacious and convenient for better
viewing of shows. If you want to see the performers, it is best to
sit in the front rows on the 1st floor. If you are more interested
in viewing the stage atmosphere, sit in the front rows on the 2nd
floor. Though not spectacular, it is a tranquil and comfortable
space. Even if you don’t attend any performances, you can still
visit to enjoy the unique atmosphere that exists here. In the
performance hall there is a lounge where you can enjoy music and
have drinks from the vending machine. There are other places to go
outdoors. You can prepare snacks and go to the small park next to
the performance hall building. You can relax on the green grass. On
your way to Jeongdong Cultural Art Center, it is more convenient to
go from City Hall Station than Seodaemun Station. Although Seodaemun
Station is indeed closer than City Hall station, the walk along
Deoksugung Palace may be more rewarding. This famous walk is called
the Deoksugung Stonewalk. It looks especially romantic in the
evening when the walls are lit by the illumination facilities. From
City Hall, Deoksugung Stonewall walk ends right in front of
Jeongdong Cultural Art Center.
Directions :
*At City Hall
Station (Seoul Subway line No.1 or 2) exit No.2 or 12, walk for 12
minutes.
* At Seodaemun Station (Seoul Subway line No.5), exit No.5, walk for
5 minutes.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)778-9817/3055 (Kor)
2. Homepage: N/A
3. Hours: Depends on the program
4. Closed: No set dates
5. Admission Fee: Depends on the program
6. Facilities: Lounge
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Jeongdong Theater
Address :
8-11 Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Description :
Jeongdong
Theater is the representative traditional art performance theatre of
Korea. With diverse cultural surrounding facilities, Jeongdong
Theater has become a popular tourist attraction site. The main
program of Jeongdong Theater is the ‘Traditional Art Performance’.
The Traditional Art Performance is presented everyday and has become
a place where we introduce our traditional art to foreigners.
Jeongdong Theater’s ‘Ssamji Madang’ has become a cultural site for
the public. It is where special event performances usually take
place. The theater is located in the B1 floor, and on the ground
level is a petite park. When entering the Jeongdong Theater lobby, a
little art gallery catches your attention. The lobby walls were
decorated into a gallery. Anybody there can spend time without being
bored. The gallery always has a certain theme and the theme changes
periodically. Inside the building, brochures explaining the
performance schedules are laid out. You do not need to pay a penny
for entrance. It may be a good idea to appreciate the pictures and
paintings while waiting. Inside the theater is a wall painting named
‘Myths of Planets, Plays, Vision’. The picture contains the soft
colors and balances of an Italian marble, and it expresses the
multitudes of culture differences. Don’t forget to take a look at it
on the way.
Directions :
At City Hall
Station, (Seoul Subway Line 1 or Line 2) exit No.1 for Line 1 or
exit No.12 for Line 2 - take a 5 minute walk through the pebble path
of Deoksugung Palace.
Information :
1. Phone
number: (02) 7511-500
2. Homepage: http://www.chongdong.com (Korean/English/Chinese)
3. Traditional Art Performances: April-September: 20:00,
October-March: 16:00
4. Holiday: None (no Traditional Performance on Mondays)
5. Admission Fee: Differs from program to program
-Traditional Art Performance Fee:
S Seats 30,000, A Seats 20,000/ <20%discount for groups of 20 or
more people>
6. Facilities: Box office, Parking lot, Restrooms
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Korea House
Address :
80-2 Pildong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
Description :
The Korea
House was opened in 1981. It is a traditional Korean building that
introduces the culture and lifestyle of Koreans where you can
experience the traditional architecture and the classical
atmosphere. The building was built after the Jagyeong-jeon building
of Gyeongbok palace of the Joseon dynasty. It is the only building
built in the traditional architecture style. You will feel the
antiquity as you enter the building. It is divided into the
Haerin-gwan (a space for people to get acquainted with each other),
the folk theater, and the three annex buildings (Munhyang-ru,
Nokeum-jeong and Cheongwu-jeong). At Haerin-gwan you can enjoy
traditional music at Garak-dang and try traditional foods at Sohwa-dang.
Especially in the square of Garak-dang you can view the traditional
weddings or people playing folk games. If you visit on weekends, you
will be able to see the traditional wedding ceremony. Also, at the
Folk Theater, about 100 seats are ready and in the afternoons Human
cultural Assets or members of the National Center for Korean
Traditional Performing Arts and the National Corps members present
traditional music and dances. Sinayui, Salpuri, Pansori, the Drum
dance and the Bongsan Mask Dance are the most popular programs for
foreigners. The programs are all explained in English and Japanese.
In the Cultural Gift Shop you can view various crafts made by
traditional craftsmen. It is always open and they are for sale as
well. There are potteries, ceramics, golden crafts, knots and
embroidery etc, approximately 500 pieces of artwork made by
craftsmen from 20 different fields. Next to the House of Korea is
the Namsan-gol Hanok village. You can view traditional houses there
also.
Directions :
At Chungmuro
station(Seoul subway line No.3 or 4) exit No.3. 2-minute walk.
Information :
1. Telephone
: (02)2266-9101-3 (Kor)
2. Homepage : http://www.koreahouse.or.kr (Kor/Eng/Chi/Jap)
3. Folk Performance Hours :
Part 1-19:00-20:00
Part 2-20:50-21:50
(On Sundays, part one is performed from 20:00-21:00)
4. Open all year
5. Folk performance fee : 29,000won
6. Facilities : Restaurant, Tea shop, Art shop.
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Korean Embroidery
Museum
Address :
89-4 Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Description :
The Korean
Embroidery Museum was founded in 1976, privately funded by Heo Dong-Hwa,
and is a place where you can view the artistry of women from the
Joseon Period. Embroidery is a picture drawn on leather or cloth
using needle and threads. There are about 1000 works of embroidery
by women from the Joseon Period (1392-1910). You can see Buddhist
embroideries, cloth wrappers, various cloths, and pleated sheets,
featuring traditional Korean patterns and colors. Starting with '500
Years of Traditional Korean Embroidery' exhibition at the National
Museum of Korea, it has exhibited 20 different exhibitions in many
prestigious museums in Japan, US, and other countries, and garnered
much praise. It has been at the forefront of running exhibits
outside the country, of letting the world learn about the beauty of
traditional Korean embroidery. It also publishes books about
traditional embroidering methods. Highly recommended for all who
want to experience the beauty of traditional Korean embroidery.
Directions :
At Hakdong
Station (Subway Line No. 7), take Exit No. 10 (5 minutes walk).
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02) 515-5114 (Kor)
2. Homepage: N/A
3. Hours: 10:00-16:00
4. Closed: Saturday, Sunday, Holidays
5. Ticket Prices: Free
6. Facilities: Parking Lot
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Kumho Art Museum
Address : 78
Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Description :
The Kumho Art
Museum was opened to celebrate the diversity of art. The museum
displays new pieces of art from promising new artists and
accomplished artists every year. The museum first opened its doors
in Gwanhun-dong in 1989 but moved to a larger area in 1996 where it
stands today. The Kumho Art Museum stands on the east side of
Gyeongbokgung Palace. The museum is surrounded by other cultural and
folk museums. The B1 floor features artwork of new artists while the
1st and 2nd floors feature project exhibitions and invitation
exhibits. About once a year foreign artists are invited to display
their art in the museum. There are official invitation exhibitions
of seven artists yearly. These are artists who have strongly
influenced Korean art. On the 3rd floor of the museum is a small
concert hall, also known as Kumho Recital Hall. Although the
capacity is only 171 people, all concerts are executed with
professional care. On the 1st floor there is a coffee shop and an
art shop. The coffee shop and art shop remain open on days the
museum is closed.
Directions :
At Anguk
Station (Seoul Subway Line 3) exit No.1, walk in the direction of
Gyeongbokgung for 10 minutes.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)720-5114
2. Homepage: http://www.kumhomuseum.com (Kor)
3. Hours: 10:00-18:30/ holidays: 11:00-18:30
4. Closed: Mondays, Jan 1, and Lunar New Year
5. Admission Fee:
Ages 20 and over: 2000 won (groups of over 20: 1000
won/person)
Ages 8-19: 1000 won (groups of over 20: 500 won/person)
6. Facilities: Cafe, Restroom, Parking Lot
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Kyobo Bookstore
Address :
Seoul > Jongno-gu > Jongno 1(il)-ga > Kyobo Life Building
Description :
Kyobo
Bookstore is the representative bookstore in Korea. Approximately
2.3 million books are classified so you can easily find the books
you want. It is always crowded with people standing, reading books.
On the weekends, from the young to the old, many people come. As the
largest bookstore in Korea, there are various events held here. One
of their famous events is the meeting of readers and authors who
write the book of the month. Kyobo Bookstore also has a character
shop, a music store and a stationery store inside. You can listen to
your favorite album at the music store. The stationery shop has
anything and everything you need. The foreign book corner is popular
to foreigners because you can find books written in various
languages. If you cannot find the books you want, you can order them
at this corner. There are many streets famous for their delicious
food around Kyobo Bookstore. If you want cheap and popular liquor
and side dishes, you can go to Pimatgol. There are many different
dishes to enjoy in a comfortable atmosphere. The Chungjin-dong
haejang-guk (broth to relieve hangover) street and the Mukyo-dong
octopus restaurants nearby are also very famous.
Directions :
* At Jonggak
Station (Seoul Subway Line No.1) exit 1, walk towards Gwanghwamun
for about 10 minutes.
* Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line No. 5) is directly
connected to Kyobo Bookstore.
Information :
1. Telephone:
02-397-3500 / 1330
2. Hours: 09:00-21:00
3. Closed: Jan 1st, Lunar New Years Day, Chuseok
4. Homepage: http://www.kyobobook.co.kr (Kor)
5. Admission Fee: Free
6. Facilities: Parking lot, Restrooms
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LG Art Center
Address : 679
Yeoksam 1(Il)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Description :
LG Art Center
is an all-purpose spot for music, dance, play, musical, and other
kinds of performances. It has seats for 1,100 people, and its modern
stage facilities can accommodate any kind of performance with
first-class support. Its cutting-edge sound system is world class
and its main source of pride. On the B1 floor there are specialty
restaurants, and on each floor there are snack bars where you can
have drinks and snacks. In the restaurant section you can try
Korean, Chinese, Southeast Asian and other countries’ delicacies.
There is also a coffee shop where you can relax. The bars on each
floor have resting spots scattered around the bars, where you can
rest and converse between performances. You can choose your own
seats when getting tickets. You can especially notice the
meticulousness of the Art Center’s design when you look at the
women’s washroom. There are 42 washrooms total, which work out to be
one room for every 13 people. Compare that to the average of 50-60
people per washroom for other places and you can see the clear
difference. You can see the care put into the center when you enter
the theater as well. The front and back seats are wide apart and
placed diagonally from each other. The back seats are also placed
higher than the front ones so one’s view is not blocked by people
sitting in front. If you have valuables or large bags, do not worry.
The article deposit can take care of items for 500 people.
Directions :
Get off at
Yeoksam Station (Seoul Subway Line 2) go to Exit No. 7. The Center
is connected to the subway.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)2005-0114 (Kor)
2. Homepage: http://www.lgart.com (Kor/Eng)
3. Hours: Differs according to program
4. Closed: No set dates
5. Admission Fee: Differs according to program
6. Facilities: Washroom, Parking Lot, Food Court, Coffee Shop,
Article Deposit
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Little Angels
Performing Arts Center
Address : 25
Neung-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
Description :
The Little
Angels Performing Arts Center is a representative performance center
built in an opera house style. There is a performance hall for
music, plays and ballets, a reception hall and an international
conference hall. The four-storied Little Angels building is famous
for its glamorous facilities. Especially since the interior design
is decorated entirely with plaster or plaster sculptures, everything
seems be to an art piece. For its main facilities the Little Angels
possesses the finest stage, lighting, and sound system, a large
auditorium, and two small auditoriums. The Little Angels is also
famous as the home to the Universal Ballet Squad and an exclusive
Little Angels Performance Squad. Famed for the talent of the
performers, they meet the audiences with diverse performances. The
annual opening ceremony in December is the most famous. These two
squads give frequent overseas performances as well. Little Angels is
located at the back gate of the Children’s Grand Park. If you have
time you should visit that place as well. Inside the Children’s
Grand Park there is a zoo, and an eco-lake. The scenery is
marvelous, and it is a wonderful place to relax and breathe some
fresh air.
Directions :
At Achasan
Station (Seoul Subway Line 2 or Line 5), exit No.3 or No.4. One
minute walk required. It is on the left side of the rear gate of
Children’s Grand Park.
Information :
1. Telephone:
02-2204-1044 / 1330
2. Hours: Differs according to program
3. Homepage: http://www.lacenter.or.kr (Kor)
4. Open all year
5. Admission Fee: Free
6. Facilities: Parking Lot, Auditorium
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Lotte World Folk
Museum
Address :
40-1 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Description :
The Lotte
World Folk Museum is a place where one can view and comprehend the
5000 years of Korean history. It was designed for both the
foreigners and the Koreans to easily learn and enjoy the Korean
culture and history. Although it is a museum featuring history it is
not difficult to follow. By utilizing magic vision, multi vision,
reduced model, and animation, the place gives its best to entertain
the viewers. It has restored important cultural assets and exhibits
them, and there are daily traditional music and dance performances.
There are also many corners where the audiences can participate
together. There is a traditional marriage ceremony vestibule where
the bride and groom may marry one another according to the
traditional marriage decorum. Perhaps if you are lucky you might
participate in one yourself. The most important exhibit hall at
Lotte World Folk museum is the history exhibition hall. Starting
from the entrance you are able to meet the landscape and folk
paintings. On the ceiling of the audiovisual room, pictures of the
map of Korean Peninsula, crater of Mt. Baekdusan, and the galaxy
unfolds. Through the multi-vision you are able to observe Korean
traditional performances. Along past the entrance and the
multi-vision room you enter the prehistoric ages. The prehistoric
ages room presents a tyrannosaurus model in a 1/2 scale of its
original size. You may be able to take a peek at the Stone Age life
by looking at the relics of that time such as a dinosaur’s egg,
fossil and dinosaur animation. It will be hard for those to walk
away from the prehistoric age room if you are interested in those
things. However, many other exciting places await you. At the model
village you will be able to view the life styles and diverse customs
of the Joseon dynasty. At the Imjinweran Hall you will be able to
view through advanced visual technology, the magic vision, the
situation of that time and the fighting scenes of General Yi
Sun-Sin. It will feel as if you were right there when the war took
place. At the Folk Playground, the weapons and instruments of the
Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) are exhibited. There are models of the
villages of Korean ancestors as well. You will marvel at the amusing
and colorful miniatures. The features of a ritual of exorcism in a
shaman’s house are produced through an operation model. Also
features of children reading the Chunjamun (thousand character text)
at a Joseon Age Sodang (village school), and villagers making wishes
at the tutelary deity shrine is also minutely depicted.
Directions :
At Jamsil
station (Seoul Subway Line 2) - directly connected.
Information :
1. Telephone:
(02)411-4761-5 2. Homepage: http://www.lotteworld.com (Kor/Eng/Chi)
3. Hours: 09:30-22;00 4. Open all year 5. Admission Fee: *Age 4-13:
2, 000 won (groups 1,500 won) *Age 14-19: 3, 000won (groups 2,000
won) *Age 20 and older: 4,500won (groups 3,500 won) 6. Facilities:
Restaurant, Restroom
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Information provided by Korea National Tourism Organization.
