National Museum of Korea Free Exhibitions Guide 2026

• Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri and Sun 9:30-17:30 (last entry 17:00). Wed and Sat 9:30-21:00 (last entry 20:30).
• Price: The permanent exhibitions and the Children's Museum are free. Ticketed special exhibitions need a separate ticket, and prices are unconfirmed.
• Location: 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu (용산구), Seoul. Tel +82-2-2077-9000.
• Nearest station: Ichon Station (이촌), Line 4 or Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Exit 2.

The National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관) in Seoul lets you see its permanent exhibitions for free, with no reservation needed. The Children's Museum and any special exhibitions marked free are also free, while ticketed special shows need a separate ticket. This guide covers what is on in late 2026, the opening hours, how to get there and what to check before you go.

What is free at the National Museum of Korea

The permanent galleries have been free since May 2008. You can walk in during opening hours and do not need to book. The Children's Museum is also free, but it works on reservations (see the booking section below). The outdoor area and the Pagoda Garden are open without a ticket, so you can enjoy them even if you do not enter the galleries.

Photo: Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea)

Special exhibitions are different. Some may be marked free, and others need their own ticket. The official English site did not say which of the current shows are free or what the tickets cost, so treat ticket prices as unconfirmed. Check the museum's official English website or call +82-2-2077-9000 before you go.

Opening hours and closing days

The museum has two schedules. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, it is open 9:30-17:30, with last entry at 17:00. On Wednesday and Saturday, it stays open until 21:00, with last entry at 20:30. The outdoor area and Pagoda Garden are open 7:00-22:00.

The museum is closed on January 1 and on Lunar New Year's Day. The galleries also close on the first Monday of March, June, September and December. The Chuseok closure was September 25, 2026. The next closure for 2026 should be December 7, the first Monday of December. That date comes from the rule above and was not listed by the museum, so recheck it before you plan your day.

Special exhibitions in 2026 and early 2027

These are the special exhibitions listed on the official English site as of October 21, 2026. The site did not state which are free or what the tickets cost.

• The Korean Table: Food, Nature, and Life: July 1 to October 25, 2026.
• Tour of National Treasures: Masterpieces Across the Country: May 19 to November 29, 2026.
• Kim Jeonghui and His Companions: August 11 to November 22, 2026.
• Evergreen Bamboo Through the Four Seasons Embodied in Ceramics: June 23, 2026 to January 31, 2027.
• Upcoming: Breaking the Seal of a Thousand Years: Buddhist Manuscripts from Dunhuang: October 23, 2026 to January 24, 2027.
• Upcoming: Marie Antoinette Style: December 18, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

The first show, The Korean Table, ends October 25, so it is the one to see soon if it interests you. The others run into November or later.

Gallery closures to know about

The Central Asia Gallery is closed from October 12 to 22, 2026. The Calligraphy and Painting, Sculpture and Crafts, and Japan galleries have temporary closures, but their dates were not given. If you are visiting mainly for one of those galleries, check the official site first so you do not arrive to a closed room.

How to get there

These directions come from secondary pages that reproduce the museum's directions. The official directions page could not be loaded, so confirm the details on the museum site.

1. Take Line 4 or the Gyeongui-Jungang Line to Ichon Station (이촌).
2. Leave through Exit 2.
3. Walk to the museum. Sources say this takes roughly 2 to 5 minutes.
4. Alternatively, use the underground Museum Nadeulgil passage from the station area. It has set hours that differ by day, so check them before you rely on it.
5. If you prefer the bus, blue buses 400 and 502 stop at the museum / Yongsan Family Park.

Booking and facilities

No reservation is needed for the permanent galleries. The Children's Museum runs 5 sessions a day between 9:30 and 17:20. Online reservations are available for 320 tickets per session, and reservers show their confirmation voucher to enter.

The museum offers free wheelchairs and strollers, free coat storage and lockers, and a lactation room. There are also three museum shops. No audio guide details were found, so ask at the information desk or check the website if you want one.

Fees may change: check before you go

Korea JoongAng Daily reported in December 2025 that the museum is reviewing an admission fee, possibly with different rates for Koreans and foreigners. Read the full article for the background. It gave no amount and no start date. A search summary mentioned 2027 and a range of 5,000-10,000 KRW, but that could not be verified, so treat any fee as unconfirmed. Until the museum announces a change, the permanent galleries remain free. Check the museum website for the latest information.

Crowds and the best time to visit

Visitors passed 5 million on October 15, 2025, after the "KPop Demon Hunters" boom, so expect crowds. For a calmer visit, aim for weekday mornings. The Wednesday and Saturday evening hours, which run until 21:00, are another option. Remember that last entry on those days is 20:30.

FAQ

Is the National Museum of Korea free?

The permanent exhibitions and the Children's Museum have no admission charge. Special exhibitions marked free are also free, but ticketed special exhibitions need a separate ticket. The Pagoda Garden is open without a ticket.

Do I need to book a ticket for the permanent galleries?

No. The permanent galleries need no reservation. Only the Children's Museum uses online reservations, with a confirmation voucher shown at entry.

How much are the special exhibition tickets?

The ticket prices were not listed on the pages that were checked, so they are unconfirmed. Check the museum's official page or call +82-2-2077-9000.

When is the museum open late?

On Wednesday and Saturday, it is open 9:30-21:00, with last entry at 20:30. The outdoor area and Pagoda Garden are open 7:00-22:00 every day.

Sources: National Museum of Korea (official English home) · National Museum of Korea (official admission & hours page) · Korea JoongAng Daily

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