- First published
- Oct 11, 2026
National Folk Museum of Korea — Seoul
The National Folk Museum of Korea's Seoul site at 37 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, is a free museum of Korean everyday life next to Gyeongbokgung. March–October hours are 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00), extended Wednesdays until 20:00 (last entry 19:00); November–February 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00). Closed January 1, Seollal and Chuseok days, plus announced special closures. Permanent Exhibition Hall 1 is temporarily closed September 30–December 21, 2026; a fire/evacuation drill is posted for October 13, 14:00–14:10. General exhibitions and walk-in docent tours need no advance reservation, but the Children's Museum requires a separate online booking, currently available only in Korean. Palace admission is charged separately.
For Sunday October 11 or next weekend, choose the general museum rather than assuming every exhibition hall is open. English guided explanation is listed on Sundays at 10:30 and Japanese on weekends at 11:00; confirm on site. On October 13 a 14:00–14:10 evacuation drill is scheduled.
Why go
Pair a free indoor folk-life museum with Gyeongbokgung, Samcheong-dong or Bukchon. Enter via the museum's Samcheong-ro approach if you are not buying a palace ticket. The museum lists guided explanations in English and Japanese, but schedules can change. Plan around the temporary closure of Permanent Hall 1.
Plan the visit
Use the confirmed place facts below, then continue to the broader travel guides for transport, facilities and eating practicalities.