The National Museum of Korea 국립중앙박물관 is the country’s leading museum for Korean history and culture, preserving and sharing heritage from prehistoric times to the present. Since its establishment in 1945, the museum has moved through several important sites, including Seokjojeon Hall at Deoksugung Palace 덕수궁 and the former Government-General building: before opening its current home in Yongsan 용산 in 2005, where it has become a major cultural landmark in Seoul. Today, the museum presents permanent galleries, special exhibitions, a Children’s Museum, and education programs that help visitors of all ages experience, study, and enjoy Korea’s cultural legacy.

A typical visit to the museum’s primary permanent galleries takes around 2 to 3 hours, giving enough time to follow Korea’s history at a comfortable pace, though visits can easily run longer depending on special exhibitions, programs, and how much time visitors spend in the gardens and other spaces.