Original architecture and inspiring art exhibitions including a Children’s Gallery – the newly opened Buk Seoul Museum is fun to visit with kids
The Northern branch of Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) named Buk Seoul Museum of Art was awarded the 2013 Seoul Architecture Award. The building itself with its sloping roofs covered with grass and greenery and looking like a small hill is already a wonderful outdoor playground for kids. They will have fun running up the stairs and discovering the structure with the geometrically-shaped windows placed all over the museum.
The museum has a main exhibition hall and photo galleries on the first and second floors, as well as a Children’s Gallery and a multipurpose hall in the basement. On the third floor you’ll find a restaurant and the rooftop garden.
At the time of our visit, the exhibitions were Scenes vs Scenes, displaying a stream of contemporary Korean art, a photo exhibition Seoulscape, and I Love Seoul in the Children’s Gallery. The I Love Seoul exhibition features 40 pieces of art. We can maybe just mention Nam June Paik’s video art installation inspired from the old-fashioned Namdaemun Market and Lee Byeong-chan’s Laputa, urban-creature. This creature made from colorful balloons blown by fans and hanging from the ceiling of the second floor was definitely our kids’ favorite 😉
The museum also organizes educational programs such as After school Crafts for Elementary School students, running every Wednesday from Nov. 13 to Dec. 18 from 4pm~6pm or Drawing & Water Colors for General Public every Friday from Nov. 1 to Dec. 20 from 1pm~3pm and many others…
For more information check Buk SeMA website (Korean)
You may continue your visit with a nice walk around the green Nowon Park. Just next to Buk SeMA, you will find fun lizard statues and a bit further other outdoor sculptures. Crossing through a colorful rainbow pedestrian bridge, there is a nice ecological pond and a Dinosaurs alley! Great fun for kids 😉 and the Art exhibitions are truly top notch if you like contemporary art!
Opening Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 10 am ~ 8 pm (*Closed on Monday)
Week-end (March ~ October) : 10 am ~ 7 pm
(November ~ February): 10 am ~ 6 pm
Admission: Free
How to get there:
Hagye Station (Line n. 7), Exit 1
Blue Bus: 100, 105, 146 – Buk Seoul Museum of Art bus stop
For localization go to Seoul Map for Kids and Families
After the museum you can also visit the nearby Dream Forest, one of our favorite (and little known) parks in Seoul!