Seoul Historical Museum | ||||
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The Seoul Museum of History chronicles the history and culture of city of Seoul from the Stone Ages
to contemporary times with a special focus on the era of the Joseon Dynasty.
To serve as a venue that showcases the long and rich history of Seoul, a city that has continuously grown
as the center of politics, economy, society and culture of Korea as the capital of the early Baekje Kingdom
and Joseon Dynasty, the design plans for the Seoul Museum of History was developed in 1985 and construction
of the museum building was completed in 1997. Finally the Seoul Museum of History had a grand opening
ceremony on May 21, 2002. The cost of the Museum is estimated at 641,570,000,000 won
(34.256 billion won for building construction and 29.901 billion for exhibit work).
The collections were collected mainly from the Joseon Dynasty era with great support elicited from a public
artifacts/heritage donation campaign. The variety of objects will be continuously expanded through future
donations, trusts and purchases.
The Seoul Museum of History will evolve into a leading cultural symbol of Seoul - a city fast emerging as a global metropolis with its hosting of the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup football games. It will raise the awareness of the history and culture of Seoul while serving as the venue for collecting, conserving, researching and displaying the city's cultural heritage. As a public museum open to and operated by the public, the Museum will also offer a wide range of interactive educational and cultural programs based on the latest media and communication technologies to serve as a cultural symbol of Seoul. 
Characteristics of the Museum- Museum that is Dynamic and Open - Hands-On Experience of the City's History - Museum that Encourages Active Participation - "Neighborhood Museum" Always Open to Visitors Exhibitions Exhibitions are categorized into four zones principally evolving around the Joseon Dynasty era to offer a comprehensive look into the landscape of Seoul, lifestyles of Seoul citizens, culture of Seoul and development of Seoul as a city. 
Zone 1 : Seoul, the Capital of Joseon DynastyProvides an overview and general feel of Seoul as a city and acts as the entry point for all permanent exhibition areas. Seoul has been the capital city for over 600 years including 500 years as the capital of the Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910). At Zone 1, you can learn more about how Seoul was chosen as the capital of Joseon, how the city looked throughout the different stages of history, its people and how Seoul is managed. Zone 2 : Everyday Life in Seoul Focuses on the way of life of those who lived in the city during the Joseon era when Seoul was the center of politics, administration, culture and economy and illustrates the unique characteristics and historical context of the city. Zone 3 : Cultural Heritage of Seoul Captures the essence of cultural life during the Joseon era by introducing: Court Life - the heart and height of the Joseon Dynasty culture; Scholarship - the core of the culture of the ruling class; and Arts - the elegant and sophisticated culture and art from the era. Zone 4 : Urban Development of Seoul Since 5000 BC, Seoul has been one of the major settlement areas and served as a fortress city during the early Baekje Kingdom from which relics can still be found. Seoul became more urban in Joseon times after being selected as the capital city. From early modern times, the city underwent many drastic changes not only resulting from the natural transformation of the city, but also from distortions exerted by the Japanese colonial rule. After liberation from Japanese colonial rule, the devastation of the Korean War (1950-1955) and rapid development from industrialization further changed the landscape of Seoul to make it what it is today. This Zone shows how Seoul changed and transformed with the ebb and tide of the Korean history.
Info-Bridge This is the mezzanine (height: 3m, width: 5m, length: 132m) that sits at the center of the exhibition area to cut through Zones 1 and 2. The area contains 36 information search devices where visitors can learn more about the exhibits through multimedia presentations and by searching for additional information. The mezzanine also offers a bird's eye view of the permanent exhibition hall so that you can again enjoy the exhibits from a different viewpoint. History Learning Corner Created mostly for children, the Area offers a variety of utensils and tools used during the Joseon Dynasty for scientific research, recreation and daily life. Children are invited to touch, use and handle the exhibit items to gain a direct experience about life during the Joseon Dynasty. Touch Museum Whole or parts of various items related to the exhibits are displayed here to offer visitors hands-on experience about the life during the Joseon Dynasty. Visitors can also learn more about individual items by searching on the monitors installed next to the items.
Hours: Weekends - 09:00 ~ 21:00 (enter 09:00 ~ 20:00) Saturdays and holidays - 10:00 ~ 19:00 (enter 10:00 ~ 18:00) Closed: Jan. 1, every Monday, other holidays designated by the head of museum Admission: Adults (19 to 64 years old): 700 won (groups 550 won) Youths (13 to 18 years old): 300 won (groups 250 won) Children/Seniors: Free Directions: Subway line 5, Gwanghwamun Station, exits 7 & 8 | ||||
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