Places & Food
MMCA's Four Branches: Seoul, Deoksugung, Gwacheon and Cheongju (Hours, Tickets and Directions)
AT A GLANCE
- Seoul
- 30 Samcheong-ro; Anguk Station Exit 1 (Line 3); 10 am–6 pm, Wed and Sat until 9 pm
- Deoksugung
- 99 Sejong-daero, inside Deoksugung Palace; Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm, Wed and Sat until 9 pm
- Gwacheon
- 313 Gwangmyeong-ro; Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm; standard exhibition ticket ₩3,000
- Cheongju
- 314 Sangdang-ro; Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm; storage floors free
MMCA is the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, and its four branches suit different plans: a city walk, a palace visit, a day outside Seoul or a look at how art is stored. Access and prices differ. A free public area does not mean every gallery is free, and the palace around the Deoksugung branch has its own admission. This guide lists the standard hours and fees from the official visitor guides. Checked on 2026-10-12.
The hero image is AI-generated and is not a photo of an MMCA building.
Seoul: art plus a neighborhood walk
The Seoul museum is at 30 Samcheong-ro, beside Gyeongbokgung, a historic royal palace in central Seoul. The official directions include Anguk Station, Line 3, Exit 1. Samcheong-dong, the surrounding neighborhood, makes it easy to keep walking after a show (MMCA Seoul visitor guide). For a current exhibition there, see Do Ho Suh at MMCA Seoul.
Deoksugung: a museum inside a palace
This branch sits inside Deoksugung Palace at 99 Sejong-daero, in central Seoul, and focuses on Korean modern art (MMCA Deoksugung guide). Keep the two entrances in mind. On late-opening nights the museum stays open until 9 pm, but the palace gate stops admitting visitors at 8 pm. Palace admission is separate from exhibition admission.
Gwacheon: leave time for the grounds
The Gwacheon branch is outside central Seoul, at 313 Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwacheon. Its sculpture park is part of the visit. The museum provides a directions and shuttle section and warns that shuttle service can be delayed or suspended (MMCA Gwacheon guide). Allow more travel time and check the route for your day.
Cheongju: a collection between exhibitions
Cheongju is a separate city south of Seoul. Its MMCA branch, at 314 Sangdang-ro, focuses on storing and conserving art, and its open-storage areas show a side of museum work that is usually out of sight (MMCA Cheongju guide). It is part of a Cheongju trip, not another stop on a short walk between Seoul museums.
Hours and tickets (reference)
These are the standard hours and fees from the four official visitor guides. Special closures and exhibition conditions can override them. Times are Korea Standard Time.
| Branch | Standard hours | Admission notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 10 am–6 pm; Wed and Sat until 9 pm | Individual exhibitions priced separately; ₩10,000 combined ticket when three or more special exhibitions operate. Wed/Sat 6–9 pm admission is free. |
| Deoksugung | Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm; Wed and Sat until 9 pm | Exhibition prices vary; free museum admission Wed/Sat 6–9 pm. Palace admission is separate. |
| Gwacheon | Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm | Standard exhibition ticket ₩3,000. |
| Cheongju | Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm; last admission 5 pm | Floors 1–4 storage areas free; fifth-floor special exhibition ₩2,000. |
Seoul lists closures on New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok, plus special notices. The other three list Mondays and New Year’s Day as regular closures. For workshops, tours or group visits, use MMCA’s reservation listings. A gallery ticket does not include them.
Which branch to choose
- Seoul: an evening visit and a walk in Samcheong-dong
- Deoksugung: art inside a palace
- Gwacheon: art plus a sculpture park
- Cheongju: open storage and conservation. See Four Day Trips Outside Seoul.
Good for / not for
Good for
- Visitors who want a quiet museum day at a national museum
- People comparing locations and ticket options
Not for
- Anyone planning to visit all four in one day. They are in different areas.
Sources
- MMCA Seoul https://www.mmca.go.kr/visitingInfo/seoulInfo.do
- MMCA Deoksugung https://www.mmca.go.kr/visitingInfo/deoksugungInfo.do
- MMCA Gwacheon https://www.mmca.go.kr/visitingInfo/gwacheonInfo.do
- MMCA Cheongju https://www.mmca.go.kr/visitingInfo/cheongjuInfo.do
- MMCA reservations https://www.mmca.go.kr/visitingInfo/eventReserve.do
Checked on 2026-10-12. Hours, fees and closures can change. Confirm in each branch’s guide before you go.