Offering a unique insight into the rich artistic, historical and cultural heritage of Korea, the National Museum of Korea is a must visit attraction when in Seoul. This popular site showcases items, exhibits and artefacts that range from the Paleolithic period to modern photography and provides hours of exploration.
The National Museum of Korea is situated in the Yongsan area of Seoul where it reopened in its new home in 2005. Spanning an area of around 307,227 square metres, the site is set amidst a picturesque backdrop of Mt. Namsan and is within easy reach of such famous attractions as the five palaces of the Joseon Dynasty.
The building spans a total of six stories and features over 13,000 exhibits that can be found in its six permanent galleries. Offering visitors an exciting journey of exploration, the National Museum of Korea is home to such national treasures as the Gold Crown from Silla and the Pensive Bodhisattva.
The first floor of the museum is where one will find the Medieval and Early Modern History area which features exhibits from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. The other section on this floor is the Prehistory and Ancient History area with its range of ancient artefacts from a variety of periods including the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages and the Goguryeo and Balhae kingdoms.
Moving onto the building’s second floor, visitors can explore the Calligraphy and Painting galleries which showcase exquisite traditional works by Korean painters along with intricate works of calligraphy and Buddhist paintings. Also on this floor is the section that displays Donated Works and includes a variety of sculptures, paintings, ceramics and more.
The Sculpture and Crafts exhibit can be found on the third floor and features a room that focuses on Buddhist sculpture, a gallery of metal crafts and a gallery where one can view white porcelain from various time periods. The Asian Art Section is also on this floor and is where one will find a broad array of art and artefacts from South Asia, Central Asia, China and Japan.
Those visiting the city and in search of a centrally located Seoul apartment can stay at Somerset Palace Seoul. These well equipped Seoul serviced apartments are situated in downtown Seoul and are ideal for business and leisure travellers alike.
