National Folk Museum of Korea

In a bustling metropolis like Seoul, it can be difficult to imagine the lifestyles of its residents before subway systems, skyscrapers, and Gangnam Style. The National Folk Museum of Korea, located inside majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace, is a tribute to the country's folklore and ways of life in previous times. More than any of Seoul's other museums, the Folk Museum offers visitors a unique glimpse into the Hermit Kingdom's alluring past. Follow the changes of the lifestyles of the Korean people from prehistoric times to the end of the Joseon Dynasty as you maneuver about the wonderfully curated exhibits, which take about 2 hrs. to explore in total.

Begin in Exhibition Hall 1, which presents representative materials of everyday life to depict Korean culture and history from prehistoric to modern times. In Exhibition Hall 2, don't miss the reproduction of a Korean marketplace; although these cultural relics are currently on the verge of extinction, they were once a place of social gathering for gossip, entertainment, and business. The exhibition also shows the traditional domestic and agricultural lifestyles of villagers, demonstrating how Koreans lived in harmony with nature. Exhibition Hall 3 illustrates the life cycle of the Korean people in the Joseon Dynasty through models and important items used during major events such as weddings, funerals, and ancestral rites. The colorful imagery identifies roles played by men and women in relation to their families and their functions in society, many of which are still applicable in modern-day Korea.

Each of the museum's 4,000 cultural artifacts has a story to tell about Koreans' lifestyles and cultural beliefs, but the highlights of the museum are the free performances that take place just outside the entrance on Saturdays from January to September. Experience exorcism rites used in shamanism, martial arts demonstrations, and even an emotional reenactment of a village funeral. These performances bring to life Korean folklore in a way the museum's artifacts cannot, and they are a hopeful sign that Korea's cherished traditions do still exist, however deeply concealed beneath the concrete and neon of Seoul.

Details

• Address: Inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, 37, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu
• Neighborhood: Gyeongbokgung
• Phone: [phone]
• Website: https://www.nfm.go.kr/language/english/main.jsp
• Hours: Mar–May and Sept–Oct, Wed–Mon 9am–6pm; Jun–Aug, Wed–Mon 9am–6:30pm; Nov–Feb, Wed–Mon 9am–5pm
• Prices: Free admission
• Transportation: Exit 1 of Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3)