Culture
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA), Jongno
In the heart of the historic capital MMCA showcases works by artists from around the world, from Damien Hirst to Choi Wook-kyung. The site, which housed a military intelligence agency until 2006, reflects a sense of openness and transparency thanks to its large courtyards and wide entryways, designed by Mihn Hyunjun. Some remnants of its old life are preserved, including the main building of the old Defense Security Command; its red brick façade is now a point of entry for visitors.
Korea Furniture Museum, Seongbuk
This reservation-only museum is an intimate, boutique destination dedicated to traditional Korean wooden furniture and hanok culture. Set within restored hanok houses, it showcases handcrafted pieces from the Joseon dynasty – including ancient scholars’ bookshelves made from paulownia wood – that reflect Confucian aesthetics and spatial philosophy.
Leeum, Hannamdong
An art museum founded by tech giant Samsung Electronics’s founding family, Leeum is an eclectic mix of traditional Korean art, contemporary works and international pieces. You’ll find 1,000-year-old ceramics as well as conceptual contemporary exhibitions by the likes of Lee Bul and Pierre Huyghe. The museum is set across three buildings, designed separately by Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas.
National Museum of Korea, Ichon
The Korean peninsula’s largest museum of traditional art and history is an essential stop. Walk through displays showcasing millennia of Korean stories and objects, from humble pots made by the region’s first settlers and medieval paintings to models of modern-day apartments. Spend time meditating in the Room of Quiet Contemplation, which houses the gilt-bronze Bodhisattvas statues that sit side by side inside a wide, empty space evoking a desert night.
Silver Cinema, Jongno
A wonderfully quirky experience, Silver Cinema shows black-and-white Hollywood films in a space decorated with antique curios, from broken telephones to old Korean matchboxes. It is on the fourth floor of the Nakwon Arcade, a fascinating complex from South Korea’s industrial era, which is now designated as a Seoul Future Heritage site.
