The permanent galleries are free. Regular days (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun) run 09:30–17:30; Wednesday and Saturday run late until 21:00. Last admission is 17:00 or 20:30. Only some special exhibitions charge a fee. The Children’s Museum is also free but requires an online reservation. Talk of “paid permanent admission in 2027” is still at the pilot/consultation stage — there is no permanent-gallery ticket price in 2026.
Official English name: National Museum of Korea. Address: 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04383. Tel: +82-2-2077-9000.
Are the permanent galleries free — and what is paid?
Official visitor guidance lists permanent galleries, the Children’s Museum, and free special exhibitions as free. Paid special exhibitions need a separate ticket, sold at the Special Exhibition Gallery 1 ticket desk (Gallery 2 also sells at its entrance) until 30 minutes before closing. If you only plan the permanent halls, you can skip the ticket line.
| Area | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent galleries | Free | No advance booking required for individuals |
| Children’s Museum | Free | Online reservation required |
| Free special exhibitions | Free | Varies by show |
| Paid special exhibitions | Paid | Box office; sales end 30 min before close |
What about 2027 paid admission and reservations?
Permanent galleries have been free since May 2008. At the February 2026 new-year briefing, the museum said it would build a CRM system and develop online reservation, ticketing, and mobile tickets for a pilot in the first half of 2027 — preparation *in case* of a future fee, not a live ticket price today. Whether an admission fee starts will be decided after the pilot and talks with ministries. Headlines that say “paid from next year” are easy to misread; for a 2026 visit, permanent galleries remain free.
Opening hours, last entry, and closed days
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday: 09:30–17:30. Wednesday and Saturday: 09:30–21:00. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing (17:00 / 20:30); staff begin guiding exits 10 minutes before closing. The outdoor exhibition area (garden) stays open 07:00–22:00, so you can still walk the grounds after the main building closes.
| Day type | Hours | Last admission |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun | 09:30–17:30 | 17:00 |
| Wed & Sat (late) | 09:30–21:00 | 20:30 |
| Outdoor exhibition (garden) | 07:00–22:00 | — |
Fully closed in 2026: 1 January, Seollal (Tue 17 February), Chuseok (Fri 25 September). Permanent and Special Galleries 1–2 rest days: Mon 1 June, Mon 7 September, Mon 7 December (*no March rest day in 2026*). On rest days the outdoor area still opens as usual.
School groups of 30 or more elementary/middle/high students need advance booking; unbooked school groups are not admitted. Self-guided commentary groups (not the museum’s official tours) also need advance booking.
Does the Children’s Museum need a reservation?
Yes. It is free but online reservation only. Hours are daily 09:30–17:20 in five 80-minute sessions, each capped at 320 visitors (individuals and groups combined). Show your mobile ticket at the entrance. Tel: +82-2-2077-9647~9648.
| Session | Time | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 09:30–10:50 | 320 |
| 2 | 11:00–12:20 | 320 |
| 3 | 13:00–14:20 | 320 |
| 4 | 14:30–15:50 | 320 |
| 5 | 16:00–17:20 | 320 |
Galleries mainly target ages 5–9; the “Deguldegul” play area is for children 36 months and under. Food is not allowed inside. Children’s Museum rest days in 2026 follow the same Monday dates: 1 Jun, 7 Sep, 7 Dec.
A sample family day: two adults and one child pay ₩0 for permanent halls; book Children’s session 2 (11:00), then do morning permanent galleries → lunch → the kids’ slot. On Wed/Sat you can finish the Children’s Museum by late afternoon and stay for evening permanent galleries. When a session is full, same-day walk-ins are not the model — book weekends and holidays early.
How to get there from Ichon Station, tours, and rules
Take Subway Line 4 or the Gyeongui–Jungang Line to Ichon Station. Official directions: leave via Exit 2, walk about 150 m toward Yongsan Family Park. Elevators serve the Exit 1/2 area. Address: 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu.
Highlights tour for international visitors
The Museum Highlights Tour meets in front of the Korean Empire gallery on Permanent Exhibition Hall 1F. Weekdays: 10:30 and 13:00. Sat/Sun: English/Japanese at 10:30 and 13:00; Chinese at 13:00. Schedules can change monthly — check the official page on the day.
Common rules: no smoking anywhere; no food/drinks or pets (certified service dogs OK); phones silent in galleries; backpacks in 1F lockers; no wheeled shoes; no flash, tripod, selfie stick, gimbal, or commercial photography. Security screening has been in place since 11 June 2024. Wheelchairs and strollers (up to 15 kg) are free in the Great Hall.
Half-day tip: Ichon → permanent 1F highlights → (if booked) one Children’s session → outdoor garden. Full day on Wed/Sat: slow afternoon in the permanent halls, then the garden in the evening. If a paid special show is on, add about 30 minutes for ticketing and queues. School trips of 30+ need the separate student-group booking channel.
FAQ
Q. Are the permanent galleries really free? Yes. Official guidance lists permanent galleries as free. You pay only for paid special exhibitions.
Q. Until when can I enter on Wednesday or Saturday nights? Those days close at 21:00; last admission is 20:30. Other days close at 17:30 with last admission at 17:00.
Q. Can I walk into the Children’s Museum without booking? No. It is free but online reservation only — 320 per session, mobile ticket at the door.
Q. Will permanent galleries charge from 2027? No fee is fixed yet. A reservation/ticketing pilot is planned for H1 2027; whether admission fees start will be decided afterward. For 2026 visits, treat permanent galleries as free.
Q. What is the difference between closed days and gallery rest days? Full closed days in 2026: Jan 1, Seollal (Feb 17), Chuseok (Sep 25). Permanent/special gallery rest days: Jun 1, Sep 7, Dec 7 — the outdoor garden still opens then.
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