subject: The National Museum of Korea: Famous Art and Visiting Tips [print this page] The National Museum of Korea: Famous Art and Visiting Tips
The National Museum of Korea contains one of the oldest collections of ancient and cultural artifacts in Asia and is the sixth largest art museum in the world. Its permanent collection consists of over 220,000 historical artifacts with over 13,000 items on display at any given time. The collection here encompasses the culture and history of what is known today as modern day Korea and contains artifacts that date as far back as the Paleolithic era, 2.5 million years ago.
The National Museum of Korea was established in 1908 as Korea's first museum. Its collection was started from the Imperial museum collection at the Changgyeong Palace in Seoul, which was one of the Five Grand Palaces of Joseon Dynasty (14th century). The museum's collection has grown enormously over the centuries primarily through donations from private collectors and with the assignment of many of the National Treasures of South Korea, a numbered series of treasures, objects, and buildings recognized as having exceptional cultural value, to the museum.
Highlights of its collection include a 5th century royal crown made of solid gold, a massive bronze bell weighing 19 tons, a 6th century bronze statue of an early Buddha, a remarkable stone pagoda that stands over 30 feet in height, and a famous painting of a heavenly horse on the mud guard of a saddle.
- The National Museum of Korea receives 2.7M visitors annually and has long lines on weekends. Recommend: Visiting on weekdays and also Wed and Sat evenings when the Museum closes late (9p).
- Give yourself at least 4 hours to view the Museum. The National Museum of Korea has more than 13,000 works of art on display.
- 1-hr guided tours in English are given at 1030 and 230 near the Museum entrance. Cost: Free.
- Both Digital Guides(PDA) and Audio Guides(MP3) are available for rent at the Information Desks. Cost: 3,000 Won & 1,000 Won.
- The Seoul City Tour Bus is a great way to visit popular tourist attractions. The ticket covers not just sightseeing, but also entrance fees to museums, exhibitions, & performances, for the day. Ticket holders can disembark at bus stop for a look around and continue their trips on another bus. Provided at each bus stop is a multiple-language (English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean) guide service.
