National Museum of Korea

Overview

The National Museum of Korea is Asia's largest museum, a monumental glass and stone building housing 310,000 artifacts spanning 5,000 years of Korean civilization, from Neolithic pottery to Joseon-era golden crowns.

Highlights

• Silla Gold Crown: Exquisite 5th-century golden crowns from the Silla Kingdom, among the finest ancient gold work in Asia.
• Celadon Gallery: Gorgeous Goryeo-era celadon ceramics, considered among the world's finest pottery.
• Buddhist Art: A towering 10-meter gilt-bronze Buddhist triad from the 6th century.

History

Founded in 1909, the museum moved to its current striking Yongsan building in 2005. Admission to the permanent collection is free, continuing a Korean tradition of public cultural access.

Visitor Tips

• Free Admission: The permanent galleries are always free.
• Prioritize: The museum is vast — start with the Silla and Goryeo galleries.
• Duration: 2–3 hours.