What are the opening hours of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History?

Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun 10:00 to 18:00; Wed, Sat 10:00 to 21:00. Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed 1 January, Lunar New Year and Chuseok.

How do I get to National Museum of Korean Contemporary History?

The nearest station is Gwanghwamun (Line 5), exit 2. National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is in Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun, Seoul.

How much does National Museum of Korean Contemporary History cost?

Nothing. National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is free to visit.

Museum

National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun, Seoul

Address

198 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hours

Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun: 10:00 to 18:00
Wed, Sat: 10:00 to 21:00

Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed 1 January, Lunar New Year and Chuseok.

Source: english.visitseoul.net, checked 13 Oct 2026.

A free museum on Sejong-daero covering Korea's history since the 1876 opening of the ports, a block from Gwanghwamun Square.

Nearest station Gwanghwamun (Line 5), exit 2

Cost Free

Time needed 1.5 hours

Best time Wednesday or Saturday evening

Free Rainy day

Insider tip

It stays open to 21:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Tap to open the interactive map

View on the interactive map Google Maps directions

What's on near National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, from the weekly Seoul events calendar.

Illumination

Seoul Light Gwanghwamun 2026

11 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 Gwanghwamun Square, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun

Time 17:30 to 22:00 Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5), exit 8

A light display at Gwanghwamun Square, part of the Seoul Winter Festival. The city festival portal prints 11 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027, 17:30 to 22:00.

See on the map Event listing Hotels nearby

Yi Sun-sin statue and fountains in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul

travel oriented, CC BY-SA 2.0

Performance On now

Enemy (based on Ibsen's An Enemy of the People)

26 Oct to 14 Nov Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Sejong M Theater, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun

Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5)

Listed on the Sejong Center home page for October 26 to November 14, 2026 at Sejong M Theater.

See on the map Event listing Hotels nearby

Performance Starts in 3 days

La Bohème

5 to 8 Nov Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Sejong Grand Theater, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun

Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5)

Listed on the Sejong Center home page for November 5 to 8, 2026 at Sejong Grand Theater.

See on the map Event listing Hotels nearby

Concert Starts in 11 days

CHANGMO : MONOLITH

13 to 15 Nov Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Sejong Grand Theater, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun

Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5)

Listed on the Sejong Center home page for November 13 to 15, 2026 at Sejong Grand Theater.

See on the map Event listing Hotels nearby

Performance

Triple Bill: All for Hans van Manen

19 to 22 Nov Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Sejong M Theater, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun

Station Gwanghwamun (Line 5)

Listed on the Sejong Center home page for November 19 to 22, 2026 at Sejong M Theater.

See on the map Event listing Hotels nearby

Smaller local events nearby

Seoul City Tour Bus downtown, palaces and Namsan course Activities
Tuesday to Sunday, every 25 minutes from 9:20. Next: Tue 3 Nov · Gwanghwamun Square, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun
A hop-on hop-off route from Gwanghwamun. Departs from the Gwanghwamun ticket booth. Closed on Mondays.
Adult from USD 22 · First bus 9:20, last bus 16:50 · Map · Source: Seoul City Tour Bus
Seoul City Tour Bus Han River and Namsan night tour Activities
Tuesday to Sunday, 19:00. Next: Tue 3 Nov · Gwanghwamun Square, Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun
Departs from the Gwanghwamun ticket booth. Closed on Mondays.
Adult from USD 20 · 19:00, 90 minutes · Map · Source: Seoul City Tour Bus

See every upcoming event in Seoul

Nearby

Gwanghwamun Square Landmark · 1 min walk The wide public square on Sejong-daero in front of Gyeongbokgung, with statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong. Gwanghwamun Jip Food · 4 min walk A kimchi jjigae restaurant close to Gwanghwamun station, with the stew as the signature dish. Cheonggyecheon Stream Park · 4 min walk An 11 km restored stream through central Seoul, from Cheonggye Plaza to the Han River. Seoul Museum of History Museum · 6 min walk A free city museum beside Gyeonghuigung on Seoul's history, with a large model of the city. Gyeonghuigung Palace Palace or temple · 8 min walk A reconstructed palace west of Gwanghwamun with free entry. National Palace Museum of Korea Museum · 8 min walk A free museum next to Gyeongbokgung on royal court objects, with a Joseon-era collection.

Around Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun

Palace gates, museums and the Seochon lanes

This is the formal centre of Seoul. Gyeongbokgung sits at the top of Sejong-daero, with Gwanghwamun Square in front and a cluster of free museums around it. Seochon, the grid of small streets to the west, has Tongin Market and a few cafes.

Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun has 13 places on the Roam Seoul map: 5 museums, 3 palaces and temples, 2 restaurants, 1 landmark, 1 market and 1 cafe. Read the Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun guide.

Deoksugung Palace Palace or temple · 9 min walk
Tosokchon Samgyetang Food · 10 min walk
Gyeongbokgung Palace Palace or temple · 11 min walk
Tailor Coffee Seochon Cafe · 12 min walk
Cheongwadae Sarangchae Museum · 13 min walk
Tongin Market Market · 14 min walk
National Folk Museum of Korea Museum · 17 min walk

Good to know

What is the address of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History?: 198 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
What are the opening hours of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History?: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun 10:00 to 18:00; Wed, Sat 10:00 to 21:00. Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed 1 January, Lunar New Year and Chuseok.
How do I get to National Museum of Korean Contemporary History?: The nearest station is Gwanghwamun (Line 5), exit 2. National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is in Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun, Seoul.
How much does National Museum of Korean Contemporary History cost?: Nothing. National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is free to visit.
How long do you need at National Museum of Korean Contemporary History?: Plan for 1.5 hours.
When is the best time to visit National Museum of Korean Contemporary History?: Wednesday or Saturday evening.

Stay near National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

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