the Coolest Places in Korea
Artistically Inspiring Spaces
- #Nature
- # Cultural Complex
- # Exhibition
- # Museum
@nazacca
Museum SAN is the essence of Tadao Ando’s architecture, who loved light and nature.
The architecture of Museum SAN is in itself an exhibition and artwork. It is built on a mountain with a spectacular view, allowing visitors to witness ever-changing nature all four seasons. As an architect who loves natural lights, Tadao Ando often uses a setting leveraging light.
The thoroughly planned exhibition road enables visitors to enjoy the space fully. Follow the narrow path to the Welcome Center that leads to the Flower Garden, Water Garden, Main Building, Meditation Hall, Stone Garden, and James Turrell Hall. Museum SAN is a must-visit if you are interested in art and architecture.
- Address: 260, Oak valley 2-gil, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do
- Operating hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10:00-18:00
- Other information: Closed Mondays / Last admission at 17:00
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/61920cc8c19ace1b5ba33924/daylog/64c9999c5b43733ae1d7eefd
- #Exhibition
- # Museum
@_hyogeun_
Become one with the art piece in a Room of Quiet Contemplation.
When you walk through the exhibition halls in contrast to the bright outside halls, media art will illuminate the dark corridor. The reddish wall, plastered with a mix of dirt, cypress, and cinnamon, is slightly tilted. At the end of the finely tilted wall is the ceiling, where approximately 20,000 sticks representing stars are installed. All sticks are pointing to the Pensive Bodhisattva Statues, a National Treasure.
It is unique that the whole hall is dedicated solely to the display of the pensive bodhisattva statues. The museum has limited explanatory articles for visitors to concentrate on the artwork. I recommend the space to those who want some time to get out of obsession and immerse in contemplation.
- Address: 137, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Operating hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday 10:00-18:00 / Wednesday, Saturday 10:00-21:00
- Other information: Last admission 30 minutes before closing / Closed on New Year’s Day, Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) (Other closing dates are notified on the official website)
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/61b5f9fed2bb794e514fe2ee/daylog/620a191483b91c415d3f71f3
- #Nature
- # Photo Zone
@_hyogeun_
Seoul Botanic Park’s Greenhouse is a virtue that an urban landmark must possess.
There is a Wetland Eco Park at the starting point of Magok District created by the water current from Hangang River. It is an open space that lets us breathe in a desolate city life.
Unlike others, the greenhouse is shaped like a bowl with a concave center and higher rims. It allows plants to be placed at various heights. The unique space eliminates obstructive structures. Start from the ground floor and follow the skywalk to explore the plants as much as you like.
- Address: 161, Magokdong-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul
- Operating hours: Tuesday–Sunday 09:30-18:00 / Winter season (November–February) 09:30-17:00
- Other information: Closed Mondays / Last ticketing one hour before closing.
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/126836001637569170/daylog/63735514b01cb72648e789ea
- #Exhibition
@_hyogeun_
Metabox, a rock that guides you to the world of art.
Metabox is an art gallery that displays the artworks of the artist Suh Yong-sun.
All his works convert three-dimensional spaces into two-dimensional flat spaces. Characters are highlighted in a red outline. As characteristic of the artists’ works, the building is red, flat, and square. The red building stands in stark contrast to the color blue in the surrounding nature. When viewed from the front, the building has an enormous surface. It transformed into a rock penetrating toward the sky when we approached. Then, it became a monolith with a monumental aspect when seen from afar.
- Address: 957-1, Munho-ri, Seojong-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/652907a22a5779714ec9b882/daylog/652907a22a5779714ec9b895
- #Library
@architechu
The Seocho Bangbaesup Library is a special library dedicated to beautiful nature.
The library is adjacent to Seoripul Park in Bangbae-dong, Seoul, and you can listen to the birds singing and the wind blowing through the forest. Inside the library, calming piano music is played. And massive sky shines bright in the middle of the library. You will find the clear sky when you pause from your reading and look up. The sunlight that fills the library spreads softly from the center of the space.
You will find your answers here if you want to add beautiful memories to the intellectual reading experiences.
- Address: 160-7, Seocho-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- Operating hours: Monday-Thursday 09:00-22:00 / Weekends 09:00-18:00
- Other information: Closed Fridays
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/64b9d67bca38e81373d02cf0/daylog/64c4edd05b43733ae199f8d1
- #Cultural Complex
- # Exhibition
- # Museum
@nazacca
ITAMI JUN MUSEUM retraces the life course of the architect Yoo Dong-ryong, who loved the nature of Jeju.
It is a space to learn about the world of Yoo Dong-ryong, more widely known by his stage name, Itami Jun. The audio guide will help visitors easily understand at a deeper level of the inspirations that the architect wanted to portray in his works.
When you walk inside the door, you will find a round, oval-shaped library visible from the outside. Walk the stairs along the oval shape to view the exhibition on the second floor. I recommend you take time for contemplation at the library and tea lounge on the first floor after you finish viewing the exhibition.
- Address: 906-10, Yonggeum-ro, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
- Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00
- Other information: Closed on Mondays, New Year's Day, and Korean Thanksgiving Day / Last admission 17:00 / By reservation only (same day reservation and cancellation not available)
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/63cb69a2df554157b1b4714e/daylog/6472eca67880c930022c68e6
- #Cafe
@goh.dori
Café Gid is a coffee shop in Sokcho built with a motif of a crane beating its wings.
It is a space with overwhelming geometric and architectural beauty and the grandeur of Ulsanbawi Rock in the front. The water space in the middle of the cafe and the high walls enclosing both sides feel like a labyrinth.
The table inside the space is of a black geometric shape. The wide-spread sculpture on the ceiling harmonizes with the white wall and the plaster-colored floor. Outside the building, there are rectangular benches with wood grain that blend into nature as if they are part of it and do not obstruct the scenery.
- Address: 60, Wonamhaksapyeong-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do
- Operating hours: Weekdays 11:00-18:00 / Weekends 10:00-18:00
- Other information: Last order 17:30 / Closing dates due to rental are notified on the Instagram account
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/62d77f13d0f7a95ce73d5545/daylog/633b99106cb92be0b0709c7e
- #Exhibition
- # Museum
@_hyogeun_
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is the oldest modern and contemporary museum in Korea.
In 1986, MMCA Gwacheon officially opened with the title of the first National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea. The museum is extensive, with many entrances and parking lots. Follow the gently curved road to reach buildings placed with a balance around the cylinder-shaped building and a straight and direct flow.
In the main exhibition building, you will find Nam June Paik's artwork, representing Korea's modern history. On the ceiling above the artwork is a carved message that reads, “Here we build a hall that will forever shine a light on the path of Korea’s art development and now we choose a good day to set the pillar. May it continue to prosper forever.” It shows the gravity and grace of MMCA Gwacheon.
- Address: 313, Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
- Operating hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10:00-18:00
- Other information: Closed Mondays
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/61f2823b38b59d7a85f13605/daylog/6229bd76bf56e155b41b08b8
- #Exhibition
- # Museum
@threerooster
KOO HOUSE MUSEUM is an art museum with a theme of houses.
KOO HOUSE MUSEUM is a contemporary art design museum in Seojong-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. The museum exhibits around 300 art pieces personally collected over 30 years by Koo Jung-soon, the CEO of DESIGNFOCUS.
The two-story building built on a large premise creates an atmosphere that differs in different angle or light. It is flat and rugged at the same time. There are ten halls finished with exposed concrete walls. When you finish viewing the last room with portraits on the second floor, you will find a balcony that leads up to the rooftop. There are outdoor installation works displayed against magnificent scenery.
KOO HOUSE MUSEUM presents a strange emotion that blurs the boundaries between art and nature.
- Address: 49-12, Munaemi-gil, Seojong-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
- Operating hours: Wednesday-Friday 13:00-17:00 / Weekends 10:30-18:00
- Other information: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays / Last admission: Weekdays 16:00, Weekends 17:00
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/9783CC77-7105-49D1-9D0B-1D817520A021/daylog/62678914b92be7156e53580c
- #Exhibition
- # Museum
@spot_editor
MUSEUM HANMI is Korea’s first art museum for photography.
Korea’s first art museum for photography opened in 2003. It relocated to Samcheong-dong as it celebrated its 20th anniversary. Viewers could better focus on the displayed photograph pieces in a space where the beauty of space is added to the all-white space with a high ceiling.
The spaces are spread across the basement to the second floor and consist of exhibition halls, multi halls, a cafe, an art shop, and a lounge where you can listen to vinyl music. Outside the lounge is a rooftop garden overlooking the Garden of Water. The museum was designed to make people move between spaces, naturally circulating the Garden of Water.
The museum uses a world-class storage using Hanmi Pharm's technology that keep medicines at the right atmosphere by moderating temperature and humidity. The museum storage, holding around 20,000 art pieces collected over 20 years, is open to the general public.
- Address: 45, Samcheong-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Operating hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00
- Other information: Closed Mondays
- Link: https://app.daytrip.io/ko/space/63b787c09cc3858c45a60d5a/daylog/63b787c09cc3858c45a60d70