Culture - Korea travel and tourism information

Jangseogak Archives (한국학중앙연구원 한국학학술정보관.장서각)

2019-11-25

323, Haogae-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-709-8111

Jangseogak Archives was established by Yi Wang-jik in 1918 as a library for Korean studies. Since its opening, the library has housed archives of Korean classics and modern works as well as the Jangseogak documents, which were transferred from the Cultural Asset Management Bureau (now Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea) in 1971.

Jangseogak has a stack room, a space for collecting and arranging classical manuscripts and general books, a reading room, a room for references and genealogical records, a theses and periodicals room, an area for special documents, and rooms for filming, photocopying, and developing microfilms. It contains documents for scholastic research and education.

Most notably, the Jangseogak holds the Uigwe (287 types 490 books, or Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty, and Donguibogam (25 volumes 25 books/Treasure No. 1085-2) documents, which are both listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World register.

Korea Postage Stamp Museum (우표박물관(구.우표문화누리))

2024-03-06

B2, 70, Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-6450-5600

The Korea Postage Stamp Museum was established to promote stamp culture. Here, visitors can explore the history of stamps throughout the ages, with a wide variety of subjects and types. Its main facilities include Postal Service History, Hands-on Postage Stamp Experience, Informative Postage Stamps, and Philately Classroom. Reservations are required for weekend tours and can be made on the website.

Gyujanggak Library of Seoul National University (서울대학교 규장각)

2022-07-27

1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul
+82-2-880-6030

Gyujanggak Library was founded in 1776 during the reign of King Jeongjo, the 22nd ruler of the Joseon dynasty, at which time it was located within the Changdeokgung Palace grounds. It functioned as the royal library, which housed writings of the previous kings, their relics and books from home and abroad.

Today Seoul National University maintains the items of Gyujanggak in a traditional Korean building which is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities necessary for the preservation of cultural heritages. Moreover, Gyujanggak Library of Seoul National University collects and publishes books from a variety of sectors such as politics, economy and society.

Gyujanggak now houses more than 270,000 items including 7 national treasures, 8 treasures, 180,000-plus old books, about 50,000 documents and 18,000 printing blocks. Among them, Joseon Wangjo Sillok (the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, a National Treasure), Seungjeongwon Ilgi (the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat, a National Treasure) and Uigwe (the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty) have been designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritages.

COEX Aquarium (코엑스 아쿠아리움)

2024-07-17

513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
+82-2-700-7200

The COEX Aquarium comprises 183 display tanks and 90 breeding tanks with 3,500 tons of water volume, making it a large-scale aquarium. It houses 40,000 sea creatures of 650 different species, exhibited in 16 themed zones. In particular, the highest number of sharks and the largest variety of species in Korea are living in this aquarium. Over 20 rest areas located throughout the aquarium, as well as an open-top water tank releasing anions make this tourist site in the heart of Gangnam a perfect healing place for local and international visitors.

KT&G Sangsangmadang Arts Space (Hongik University) (KT&G 상상마당(홍대))

2024-03-12

65 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
+82-2-330-6227

KT&G Sangsangmadang Arts Space is a multifaceted cultural space established in 2007. Spanning 660 meters with a total floor area of 3,366 meters, it features facilities such as a theater, a concert hall, a design square, a gallery, and cafés. It offers opportunities for close engagement with culture. Located near Hongik University Station, it boasts excellent accessibility and attracts many visitors due to its diverse attractions.

Gimhae National Museum (국립김해박물관)

2024-01-23

190 Gayaui-gil, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

The Gimhae National Museum was opened on July 29, 1998, in order to research and preserve the cultural heritage of the ancient kingdom of Gaya. The museum is at the foot of Gujibong Peak in Gimhae-si, the spot where the kingdom is believed to have been founded. The museum exhibits the cultural assets of Gaya, as well as cultural relics from the prehistoric age in the Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do areas, and the cultural heritage of Byeonhan, which was the foundation for the growth of Gaya.

The exterior of the museum is made using black bricks representing iron ore and charcoal famous during the Gaya Kingdom. There are two exhibition halls, while the walkway to the halls have approximately 1,300 artifacts in display.

Jeju Teseum (제주테지움)

2019-03-19

2159, Pyeonghwa-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-799-4820

Teseum Safari is a new concept museum, the first of its kind in the world, exhibiting stitched dolls shaped like wildlife animals, marine animals, flowers, birds and more. The wild animal zone on the first floor has a photo zone for visitors to take photos with lions, tigers, and elephants along with teddy bears. On the second floor, varied animal dolls like dolphins, sharks and marine animals such as octopus, turtle, flamingo, crane, and a flock of ducks are available. On the second floor of Building B, a 4m-tall teddy bear is available for children to play with by running around freely at the playground, as well as watching all the teddy bears appearing in a teddy drama “New Heart.” Teseum Art Gallery shows movie parody teddy bear, Greek mythology parody teddy bear, and world costume teddy bears. A gift shop sells various teddy bear goods and lovely teddy bears. A restaurant in the basement sells handmade pizza with personalized toppings is available. In particular, wish trees located throughout Building A on the first and second floors can be a special event for tourists.

Junam Eco-Learning Center (주남저수지 생태학습관)

2021-07-21

32, Junam-ro 101beon-gil, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-225-3499

The Junam Eco-Learning Center consists of exhibition galleries, a main hall, and local produce store. Opened in 2004, the center introduces the birds, plants, and insects that are living in and around Junam Reservoir through framed and stuffed samples. In the theater, visitors can watch a video showing the intricate connection between humans and the birds of Junam. The monitors hanging on the outer walls of the galleries show the birds’ flying technique and their ecology. After exploring the center, visitors can take a free bicycle ride to the wetlands to observe the reservoir and migratory birds.

Upo Wetland Eco Center (우포늪생태관)

2021-08-23

220, Uponeup-gil, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-2-1330

Upo Wetland Eco Center is a wetland education center at the largest wetland in Korea. The center collects data and conducts research on various wild wetland animals such as birds, fish, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, and displays these to the public as well as promotes the message that humans are also part of nature and educates visitors on how humans can live in harmony with nature.

To help visitors learn more about the ecological environment, the center consists of various galleries: Understanding Upo Wetland, the Four Seasons of Upo Wetland, Living Upo Wetland, Families of Upo Wetland, and Understanding the Ecological Environment. Each gallery exhibits dynamic models and videos, as well as hands-on interactive programs.

Clayarch Gimhae Museum (클레이아크 김해미술관)

2022-12-29

275-51, Jillye-ro, Jillye-myeon, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

The name “Clayarch” is a compound word of clay and arch, short for“architecture.” It embodies the basic spirit of the museum, which is to pursue development in the field of architectural ceramics through working with science, art, education, and industry.

Clayarch Gimhae Museum aims to play a leading role in the development of architectural ceramics, which are now spreading across the globe. It intends to do so by rediscovering the relationship between ceramics and architecture – a matter that has been relatively ignored – as a new direction for ceramic art. This reflects the pluralism of this time, which seeks to pursue something creative and new and to overcome the limitations of specific fields through working with different genres. The museum seeks to actively lead this artistic attempt, and make aesthetic and scientific achievements in this field with theoretical backing gained through academic activities, lectures, and research.

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