The National Museum of Korea
Housing more than 220,000 cultural artifacts on six floors, spanning from ancient and medieval history, to early modern history, The National Museum of Korea in Seoul is perhaps one of South Korea’s most expansive and impressive museums. With exhibitions centered on areas such as calligraphy, painting, sculpture and crafts, the cultural complex beautifully illustrates the country’s advancement in the arts, religion, and culture. Don’t miss the lesser-visited outdoor exhibition area, which features a pagoda-dotted path that directs visitors toward a tranquil resting area of streams and waterfalls.
137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
National Maritime Museum
It’s no surprise that the sea is so important to the citizens of Busan, South Korea’s largest port city and the world’s fifth busiest seaport by cargo tonnage. The exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum demonstrate this importance by focusing on all aspects of marine and ocean life, from the creatures of the sea to the history of the city’s maritime industry. The museum also houses a library, aquarium, performance stage, and a 4D theatre, offering something for all ages.
Dongsam 1(il)-dong, Busan, South Korea
Daegu Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine
Get a look into the history of oriental medicine through this interactive museum, which is part exhibition, part experience center. The exhibition demonstrates the origin of oriental medicine in Yangnyeongsi, while the experience center invites visitors to learn about concepts such as eumyang-ohaeng (the five natural elements of positive and negative energy) and sasangchejil (four body types) through activities. Take a walk along the museum’s acupuncture trail or soothe your feet in a footbath of medicinal herbs. On days ending with one or six (except the 31st), a wholesale market takes place downstairs.
49, Dalgubeol-daero 415-gil, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea
Samsung D’light
Unlike most museums, which generally paint a picture of the past, Samsung D’light enables visitors to better imagine the role technology might play in our world in the next decade.
Instead of simply featuring how its products convey its vision, Samsung Electronics demonstrates how its devices and solutions are molding the future through a series of immersive activities. The “Sense” area, for example, lets them utilize gestures to interact with cutting-edge mirror displays, while the “Home of the Future” exhibition uses augmented reality to show how the “Internet of Things” will make everyday life more convenient and connected.
11, Seocho-daero 74-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Daegu National Museum
With numerous displays that range from armor and jewelry to Buddhist relics and Confucian manuscripts, visitors can take a walk through the city’s history at Daegu National Museum. One of the most visited exhibits is the Traditional Folk Life Gallery, where the Seonbi culture and the beliefs and rituals of the Yeongnam area are beautifully presented. A number of cultural programs like traditional dyeing provide a more hands-on experience for visitors of all ages.
321, Cheongho-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea
DTC Textile Museum
As the hub of South Korea’s textile industries, it’s no surprise that Daegu has its own museum dedicated to textiles and the past, present, and future of textile industries. At the DTC Textile Museum, visitors can get a close up look at how clothing and accessories, as well as the machines used to make them, have evolved over the years. Some parts of the museum feel more like an art gallery, as many of the works on display were actually crafted by fashion designers, such as the artwork entitled “Dancing Energy.” Created using small dots of fabric carefully pieced together, the work represents the feminine fantasy of beauty.
227, Palgong-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, South Korea