Point your phone at any artwork in the National Museum of Korea and hear a description instantly. Start with a free trial, no credit card required, and get your personal tour guide at hundreds of museums worldwide.
Open ArtGuide in your phone's browser before you enter. The museum has wifi available in public areas, though coverage inside some galleries may vary; mobile data ensures uninterrupted access as you explore.
Aim at any object: a National Treasure celadon vessel, a Baekje gold crown, or a scroll painting that caught your eye in the Painting and Calligraphy gallery. ArtGuide identifies it in seconds.
Choose from 9 languages and pick how deep you want to go: a brief description, the full historical context, or a closer look at the period and culture it comes from.
Official Guide
₩1,000 rental · selected highlights · Korean & English · museum only
Third-Party Apps
Free–paid · fixed route · often English only · limited elsewhere
ArtGuide
Free trial then €4.90 · any artwork · 9 languages · hundreds of museums worldwide
ArtGuide describes any object you're standing in front of, in your language. Try it free, no credit card required.
Start free trialMonday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Wednesday and Saturday: 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Verify at museum.go.kr before your visit.
Permanent collection is free, no ticket or advance reservation required. Special temporary exhibitions charge a separate admission fee. Verify at museum.go.kr before your visit.
Weekday mornings are the quietest. Wednesday and Saturday evenings offer extended hours with fewer visitors. The museum is popular with school groups on weekday mornings during term time.
The permanent collection spans three floors with over 15,000 objects on display. A focused visit to the highlights takes 2 to 3 hours; a thorough visit across all floors takes 4 or more.
The Gilt-bronze Maitreya Bodhisattva (National Treasure No. 78 and 83) and the Celadon Vessels gallery are on the first floor. The Baekje Gold Crown is in the Decorative Arts section on floor two.
Bring your own headphones. Photography without flash is permitted in the permanent galleries. The museum is in Yongsan, accessible by subway (Ichon Station, Line 4 and Jungang Line). Free English guided tours run twice daily, check museum.go.kr for times.
