Culture - Korea travel and tourism information

Busan Bokcheon Museum (복천박물관(부산))

2021-03-15

63, Bokcheon-ro, Dongnae-gu, Busan-si
+82-51-554-4263

Bokcheon Museum, an archaeological museum in Busan, opened its doors to the public on October 5, 1996 as a tribute to the long-honored history of Busan from the Samhan Era to the Three Kingdoms Era. The museum displays relics and artifacts excavated from the ancient burial ground in Bokcheon-dong. As many as 169 artifact pieces, including diverse earthenware, weapons, and ruins, found in a series of seven excavations are on display throughout the museum. The array of relics and tombs discovered in the Ancient Tombs in Bokcheon-dong, designated as Historic Site No. 273, are essential to solving the mystery of the Gaya Kingdom, which remains an uncharted, secret land.

Since opening, the museum has been conducting further research at the site of the burial grounds and remains in the local area to better understand the antiquated history and culture of Busan as well as the ancient kingdom of Gaya. The museum, as a reputable venue for historical education and exploration, also holds academic seminars and special exhibitions to share the research results and achievements with scholars and the community alike.

Tea Museum of Korea (한국차박물관)

2019-03-18

775, Nokcha-ro, Boseong-eup, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-852-0918

The Tea Museum of Korea was built to preserve Korea’s tea culture and celebrate the history of Boseong tea, which dates back as far as the Baekje Era. Each of the three floors of the museum is unique and focuses on a different aspect of tea. On the first floor is the Tea Culture Hall, which explains the process of tea production through graphic panels, videos, and dioramas. The Tea History Hall on the second floor exhibits tea wares and tools from different periods in history, showcasing the evolution of tea culture over time. The third floor houses the Tea Life Hall, which is dedicated to education and hands-on experiences and gives visitors a chance to discover the tea cultures of Korea, China, Japan, and Europe as well as various tea tools from other countries. Visitors can further delve into the world of tea by visiting the Tea Making Workshop, which is equipped with facilities to make different types of green teas.

Namdo Folk Food Exhibition Room & Honam Cultural Material Pavilion (남도향토음식박물관·호남문화자료전시관)

2021-11-27

477, Seoljuk-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-410-6642

Located in Gwangju, the Namdo Folk Food Exhibition Room was established to preserve and promote the local foods of the Namdo region. The museum has a museum shop, both permanent exhibitions and special planned exhibitions, and a studio where visitors can watch a variety of video content related to the local foods. In the Honam Cultural Material Pavilion, literature, clothing, and artwork from the region are on display.

The museum building was designed to resemble both the long, rectangular presses used to make patterned rice cakes and the Ipseokdae Rock of Mudeungsan Mountain, a symbol of Gwangju. Even the colors of the building’s walls hold special significance. The obangsaek (five colors; blue, white, red, black, and yellow) symbolize the cardinal directions, the seasons, the major organs in the body, different tastes, feelings, and philosophy.

Midang Literary House (미당 서정주 시문학관)

2024-04-06

2-8, Jilmajae-ro, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-560-2760

The Midang Literary House is a memorial center for the great poet Seo Jeong-Ju (penname ‘Midang’) built in Seonun-ri in Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, where the poet was born and is buried. In the fall of 2001, a year after the poet’s death, the center opened on November 3rd on the anniversary of the Gwangju Student Movements (1929 and 1930), which took place while Midang attended Jungang High School. Located adjacent to the center are the poet’s birth house and grave.

Housed in a renovated branch of Seonun Elementary School, the Midang Literary House was structurally designed to convey the architectural concepts of 'eco-friendly' and 'learning.’

Gochang Pansori Museum (고창판소리박물관)

2024-04-06

100, Dongni-ro, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-560-8061

The Gochang Pansori Museum was established in the old residence of ‘Dongni’ Sin Jae-Hyo (a musical theorist and arranger and a sponsor of Pansori) with the aim of honoring the great Pansori singers of the past (including Sin Jae-Hyo) and preserving and developing the indigenous tradition of Pansori. Of the original rooms of the residence only Sarangchae (an annex where men used to study or welcome guests) has been renovated and is open to the public. Right next to Sarangchae is the Dongni Gugakdang (Korean Traditional Music Hall).

Over 1,000 pieces related to Pansori and great local singers are on display at the museum, included personal possessions once owned by Sin Jae-Hyo (penname ‘Dongni’). For those interested in learning more about the traditional art of Pansori music or experiencing high-quality Pansori, the Gochang Pansori Museum is a must-visit travel destination.

Byeokgolje Museum of Agricultural Culture (벽골제 농경문화 박물관)

2024-04-06

442, Byeokgolje-ro, Gimje-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-540-4989

The largest irrigation facility in Korea, Byeokgolje Reservoir (Historic Site) is considered the birthplace of Korea’s rice-farming culture. All that remains of the reservoir today are a three-kilometer long embankment that spans from Sinyong-ri to Wolseung-ri in Buryang-myeon, Gimje-si and a monument that was erected in 1415. The Byeokgolje Museum of Agricultural Culture exhibits around 250 artifacts related to rice farming; located within the same complex is an experience center where visitors can discover many properties of irrigation facilities first-hand.

Donghak Peasants Revolution Memorial Hall (동학농민혁명기념관)

2024-04-06

742, Donghak-ro, Jeongeup-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-530-9454

The Donghak Peasants Revolution Memorial Hall was founded to commemorate the peasants who rose up against corrupt public officials in 1894. The hall presents various educational programs and events.

Iksan National Museum (국립익산박물관)

2024-04-07

362, Mireuksaji-ro, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-830-0900

Iksan National Museum is located near Mireuksa Temple Site (Historic Site No. 150), one of the largest temples of the Baekje dynasty during the Three Kingdoms Period. A total of roughly 19,200 artifacts were unearthed during archaeological research in 1980-1996, and the museum was opened as Mireuksa Temple Site National Museum in 1997 to display these findings. The Stone Pagoda of Mireuksa Temple Site (National Treasure No. 11) was restored in 2009, and the site was recognized as a World Heritage by the UNESCO in 2015, afterwhich the museum name was changed to the current Iksan National Museum. The museum also offers various cultural events and programs, including on-site education, historical and cultural lectures, and summer culture school.

Anseong Machum Museum (안성맞춤박물관)

2021-01-27

4726-15, Seodong-daero, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-676-4352

Anseong Machum Museum is a theme museum showcasing the rich cultural assets of Anseong, which have evolved around a type of brassware called Yugi.

Located at the entrance of Chungang University’s Anseong Campus, the museum has a brassware exhibition hall, theater, planned exhibition hall, agricultural history exhibition hall, local relics exhibition hall, seminar room, and research room. The brassware exhibition hall displays information on the history, production, and use of brassware.

The agricultural history exhibition hall exhibits the history of agriculture and special products of Anseong, providing the chance to see how the agriculture of Anseong has evolved over time.

The local relics exhibition hall displays the culture and history of Anseong. On display are photos of Anseong, reproductions of a historical street market, Anseong Namsadang troupe items, and Buddhist cultural assets.

National Institute of Biological Resources (국립생물자원관)

2023-04-13

42, Hwangyeong-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon
+82-32-590-7000

Opened in October 2007, the National Institute of Biological Resources is the largest collection preservation facility in Northeast Asia. The institute collects, preserves, manages, and conducts research on biological resources with the aim of growing into a focal biological resource hub of Northeast Asia. The institute is comprised of a spine-shaped collections and research center and a leaf-shaped exhibition and education center. The exhibition hall has 3,905 specimens of 1,287 native species on display. Korea's diverse ecosystems are recreated as highly detailed dioramas at the exhibition hall. A small restaurant is located inside the research center, and the extensive grass field in front of the institute provides an ideal picnic spot.

Culture - Korea travel information