Culture - Korea travel and tourism information

Boryeong Coal Museum (보령석탄박물관)

2019-03-18

508, Seongjusan-ro, Seongju-myeon, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-934-1902, +82-41-930-3566

Situated in Boryeong (Chungcheongnam-do), Boryeong Coal Museum focuses on the history of the coal industry and its importance. Its indoor and outdoor exhibition halls display a wide array of coal equipment employed to mine and carry coal. Visitors can also see a video depicting the coal mining process.

A reproduced mine is equipped with a tunnel (using the cold air from a closed mine) and decorated with photos on the wall of the tunnel. Reproducing the real process of coal mining, visitors may feel as if they are going up and down the mine, 400m underground. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (to 5 p.m. during the winter season); it is closed on Mondays.

Jeongdongjin Time Museum (정동진시간박물관)

2021-02-16

990-1, Heonhwa-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-645-4540

Jeongdongjin Time Museum is comprised of a steam locomotive and 180-meter-long train at the famous Sandglass Park. It features interesting and unique exhibition spaces based on the concept of time. Since its opening in 2013, the museum has been introduced on Korea's major television channels like KBS, MBC, SBS, and YTN as well as Chinese TV programs. In addition, the world's largest hourglass, even recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, is set up at the outside garden. Also, an extremely accurate bronze sundial with a x_height of 7.2 meters is installed in the garden.

Mungyeong Ceramic Museum (문경도자기전시관(문경도자기박물관))

2019-03-18

2416, Mungyeong-daero, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-550-6416

Mungyeong is known for its exquisite ceramics. While each piece has its own individual shape and design, as a whole, ceramics of Mungyeong are highly regarded because of their historical and cultural value. Mungyeong is home to a number of master craftsmen as well as Sagijang (referring to craftsmen making chinaware), who have been officially designated National Intangible Cultural Property. As a renowned kiln site producing Buncheongsagi (grayish-blue celadon) since the early Joseon Period, Mungyeong still offers outstanding ceramics that reflect the essence of traditional craftsmanship.

Museum of Old Roads (옛길박물관)

2023-07-28

944, Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-550-8372

The Museum of Old Roads offers the history of traditional roads and routes in Korea. In the past, Mungyeongsaejae was a transportation hub for the people of Korea, particularly during the Joseon Period. Mungyeongsaejae is home to Haneuljae (one of the oldest roads in Korea, first established in 156 AD), Tokkibiri (a famous trade route), and Yugok Station (a transport hub in the Yeongnam area).

Even though the importance of the roads as travel routes has diminished over time, they continue to increase in cultural significance, conveying the area’s rich traditional heritage to visitors. The Museum of Old Roads was opened in 2009 after having been remodeled from the Mungyeongsaejae Museum, which mainly dealt with local history.

Mungyeong Coal Museum (문경석탄박물관)

2019-03-18

112, Wangneung-gil, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-550-6424

The Mungyeong Coal Museum exhibits the history of coal and explains its important contribution to Korea's rapid industrialization. Systematic exhibition of coal and related information helps visitors understand the vital role that coal has played in shaping modern life. The museum displays coal-related relics in addition to scholarly materials.

The museum offers various exhibition halls: the Central Exhibition Hall (1F-2F), Outdoor Exhibition Hall, Mine Exhibition Hall, and Miner’s Private House Exhibition Hall. Though coal, one of Korea’s few natural resources, used to be the driving force of the Korean industry and economy, it has become less visible due to the emergence of oil and natural gas. The museum helps visitors appreciate this forgotten resource as well as the lives of miners in Mungyeong, once one of the most productive coalfields in Korea.

Gokseong Leisure Culture Center (곡성 레저문화센터)

2021-08-06

855, Gokseong-ro, Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-360-8343

Gokseong Leisure Culture Center was built to provide culture, education, and leisure facilities to the public. There are three concert and lecture halls, Dongak Art Hall, Seomjin Hall, and Daehwang Hall. There are also facilities for hobby and health classes. The center opened on March 11, 2010.

Lee Jung Seop Art Gallery (이중섭 미술관)

2020-12-03

27-3, Ijungseop-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-760-3567

Artist Lee Jung-seop is known for his paintings, reminicent of Fauvism, of which “White Ox” is most famous. During the Korean War, he spent a year as a refugee in Seogwipo with his Japanese wife and two sons in a small leased house, where he produced many masterpieces.

Although the stay was temporary, it was one of the happiest times for Lee and certainly the most productive. Recognizing his importance, the city of Seogwipo purchased the house and turned it into the Lee Jung Seop Memorial Hall. The street in front of his house, which he walked day and night, was renamed Ijungseop-ro Street. Lee Jung Seop Gallery is just behind the restored house. The gallery houses over 8 masterpieces by Lee Jung-seop and 52 works by modern Korean painters, all of which were donated to Seogwipo city by Lee Ho-jae (CEO of Gana Art).

Kim Young Gap Gallery Dumoak (김영갑 갤러리 두모악)

2022-08-31

137, Samdal-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-784-9907

The Kim Young Gap Gallery is a former elementary school turned into a gallery. Photographer Kim Young-gap, who had been suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease, spent his life capturing the beauty of Jeju Island. He created the gallery during his last days so that he could ensure his works be shared for years to come. The gallery shows the photographer’s artistic passion, and his photos reflect the sublime beauty of Jeju Island, captured day after day in all kinds of weather.

Ottchil Art Museum (통영 옻칠미술관)

2020-07-07

36, Yongnamhaean-ro, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-649-5257

Tongyeong has been known for Najeonchilgi (mother-of-pearl crafts) for over four centuries. Naturally, Ottchil Art Museum (“Ottchil” meaning “lacquer”) showcases the best of mother-of-pearl crafts of Tongyeong.

Since prehistoric times, Najeonchilgi (along with its precursor, Chaehwachilgi) has formed the essence of traditional crafts. It refers to crafts employing mother-of-pearl. During the Goryeo Period (918-1392), Najeonchilgi blossomed into a national art; it evolved into a folk art during the Joseon Period (1392-1910).

The museum displays a mixture of daily use crafts and contemporary lacquer art (including formative art pieces), both employing the finest lacquer extracted from lacquer trees. The displayed items provide visitors with an opportunity to appreciate the elegance of traditional Korean crafts.

Busan Museum of Art (부산시립미술관)

2023-01-09

58, APEC-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan
+82-51-744-2602

Busan Museum of Art opened on March 20, 1998, with the aim of providing a space to showcase the fantastic creativity of modern artwork and increase the artistic minds of the general public. The museum displays exhibitions in many genres, as well as running various educational programs. The museum consists of five floors, offering exhibition halls, archives, educational rooms, and an outdoor sculpture park. One of the museum's main events is the biennale art festival, taking place in even numbered years. Other events include planned exhibitions, invited international artists, and more.

Culture - Korea travel information