A Space for Historical Play
The Children's Museum (어린이박물관) within the National Museum of Korea serves as a dedicated environment where children engage in diverse experiences and games based on Korean history and culture. The facility is specifically designed with 5 to 9-year-olds as its primary target audience, creating an interactive space for young visitors. This focus allows the museum to tailor its exhibits and activities to the developmental stage of early elementary school children.
Photo: Republic of Korea from Seoul, Republic of Korea · CC BY-SA 2.0
Exhibits on Daily Life and Wisdom
The permanent exhibition displays various aspects of ancient people's lives, including their homes, clothing, art, and life wisdom. Visitors can observe the process of making pottery and view a collection of diverse ornaments. The exhibit also features interactive elements where children can try on traditional clothes worn by ancestors and wear gold crowns (금관) to experience historical attire firsthand.
Interactive Observation Activities
The 'Newly Observe' (새롭게 관찰해요) section encourages discovery through careful observation of the surroundings. One exhibit features a video representation of part of the <천상열차분야지도>, a star map created during the Joseon period, projected on a dark screen to simulate the night sky. Another installation uses lighting changes to demonstrate how the position and length of shadows shift on a sundial made from silhouettes.
Photo: Republic of Korea from Seoul, Republic of Korea · CC BY-SA 2.0
Puzzles and Block Construction
Visitors can engage with a cultural heritage magnification puzzle that allows them to examine the delicate decorations of ancient crafts by rotating pieces to match shapes. The museum also offers a block play activity based on the Gyeongcheonsa Ten-Story Stone Pagoda (경천사 십층석탑), a representative collection item approximately 14m in height. Children build a 1.6m high version of this pagoda using blocks, allowing them to physically construct and understand the structure.
Practical Access and Scheduling
The museum operates on an online reservation system where visitors must present a mobile ticket at the entrance. The address is 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (04383). Bus route 400 stops at Seobinggo-dong, with the National Museum of Korea located near Exit 1 of Seobinggo Station. For 2026, specific closure dates include January 1, Lunar New Year, Chuseok, and designated days such as June 1, September 7, and December 7.