Events

National Museum of Korea Visitor Guide, Plus the 2026 Gukjungbak Bunjangnori Costume Contest Recap

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AI-generated white paper carp costume on a chair beside a craft table, with a short white handwritten museum note.

AT A GLANCE

Address
137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Getting there
Ichon Station (Line 4, Gyeongui–Jungang Line); follow the museum passage near Exit 2
Admission
Permanent galleries free; special exhibitions and activities may have separate rules
Hours
9:30 am–5:30 pm; until 9 pm on Wednesday and Saturday; last entry 30 minutes before closing
Costume contest
2026 national final held Sept 19 (ended)

The National Museum of Korea in Seoul has free permanent galleries, and in September 2026 it held its first nationwide costume contest inspired by museum objects. This guide covers how to visit and recaps the contest, called Gukjungbak Bunjangnori. “Gukjungbak” is a Korean nickname for the National Museum of Korea. Participants study an object, then turn its shape and details into a costume and performance. Checked on 2026-10-12.

The hero image is AI-generated and imagines a paper carp costume. It does not show a real entry.

Visiting the museum

  • Address: 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
  • By train: Take subway Line 4 or the Gyeongui–Jungang commuter rail line to Ichon Station, then follow the museum passage near Exit 2 (museum directions).
  • Admission: The permanent galleries are free. Special exhibitions and activities can have separate ticket or booking rules.
  • Hours: 9:30 am–5:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday; until 9 pm on Wednesday and Saturday. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. It closes on Chuseok day and certain other holidays, so check the museum visitor guide before you go.

For a Seoul day plan that includes the museum, see A Seoul Day Plan.

The 2026 costume contest (ended)

The national final took place on September 19 at Yeollin Madang, the museum’s outdoor plaza. It was the first nationwide edition. 275 teams with 643 people entered, and 25 teams reached the final. Those numbers describe different stages (museum announcement, Sept 16).

According to a September 21 Seoul Shinmun report, the top prize went to a costume based on a white porcelain carp-shaped water dropper. A water dropper is a small vessel used to add water to an inkstone, where ink is prepared for brush writing (event report, in Korean). The report also lists costumes based on a seated Buddhist figure in thought, a stone lantern supported by two lions, bronze bells and royal seals.

They would need a new museum notice.

How the contest grew

According to Seoul Shinmun, Costume Play is a participatory event where entrants dress as museum artifacts and add their own interpretation in a performance. After a big hit on social media last year, it grew into a nationwide event this year. This year 275 teams and 643 people applied, more than three times last year.

  • Regional rounds: held in Chuncheon (Gangwon), Gongju (Chungnam), Daegu and Jeonju (Jeonbuk).
  • Seoul final: on September 19 in the museum’s Open Yard, where 25 teams competed. Themes included the Baekje Gilt-bronze Incense Burner, the Pensive Bodhisattva, a Goryeo bronze offering pagoda and the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok.
  • Grand prize: a 22-year-old entrant’s take on a white porcelain carp-shaped water dropper, which won the crowd with a carp-like leaping “foot clap” ceremony.
  • Five best-award teams: the Pensive Bodhisattva, the twin-lion stone lantern of Jungheung Mountain Fortress, a bronze bell, the royal seal “Jegojiji” and the gold seal with Danjong’s posthumous title.
  • Five excellence-award teams: the Cheonheungsa bell, the Wangheungsa reliquary, a tomb guardian beast, the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok and a bronze offering pagoda.

Some teams stood out. “Bangtap Goryeodan,” made up of a makeup artist, an interior worker and a dancer, moved a 4.3 m bronze offering pagoda in tiers and assembled it on site. It took a month and a half and cost about 2.4 million won. “Ungjin Jikibic” was two middle-school art teachers who entered to promote Gongju and King Muryeong’s tomb.

About 3,000 people came on the day of the final by the museum’s estimate, and cumulative visitors across the regional rounds and the Seoul final passed 10,000.

Good for / not for

Good for

  • First-time visitors who want a free museum
  • Families and anyone interested in Korean history and art

Not for

  • Anyone hoping to see the costume contest now. It has ended.

FAQ

Is the museum free? The permanent galleries are free. Special exhibitions may charge.

Which station? Ichon Station, near the museum passage at Exit 2.

Is there a 2027 contest? Watch the museum’s notices.

Sources

Checked on 2026-10-12. Hours and closures can change. The contest results are attributed to the news report.