Korea DAY 9: (Pt. 2) National Museum of Korea

3/21/2025

Read Part 1 HERE !

When discussing POIs, the National Museum of Korea was most definitely not within my list of POIs. That said, I wasn't against visiting the free museum.

The north end of Ichon station was utterly dissimilar from the cozy residential neighbourhood to the south. Air-conditioned corridors with moving walkways and tactile plates already signified an upgrade. The intentionally dim lighting, patterned tiles, textured walls, and ample signage subconsciously summoned visitors towards the museum.

Immediately before the escalators to surface level was even a map installation with colourful, flickering LED lights

The first order of business was to rid ourselves of the soy sauce-stained garbage. A CU was conveniently located outside the museum. Beside it a washroom building, which likely assumed the highlight of my visit.

The interior was comparable to that of a Chinese diner, save no eerie sewage odours or tacky floors. I was initially confused about handwashing, for, while there sinks, soap dispensers were nowhere to be spotted. Within the vicinity was a curved rod with a round blue knob at the end. The rod could pivot between two sinks, but resisted lateral movement. The round base to which it was attached also refused to depress. In other words, the contraption possessed neither a button nor a lever.
Determined to decode the device, my hands began to feel around the blue knob. On its underside, it felt sticky. The natural reaction towards a sticky substance is to pull away in disgust. After the initial confusion though, I looked down at my hands to see a white film begin to form. It was soap.

The blue knob was, in fact, a bar of soap...on a stick. Although far from sanitary, it got the job of handwashing done.

Both my browsing partner and I exchanged bewildered recaps upon reconvening outside.

The outside of the National Museum featured a manmade pond surrounded by grey paver stones, wood-plastic benches, and minimal shade. On the surface of the pond was a man on a pedal boat-stylized apparatus, likely intended for maintenance.
It is my understanding the outdoor seating was to enable visitors to admire the view from outside the museum, but, frankly speaking, the intensity of mid-day UV rays and lack of shade would have easily banished me into the depths of an A/C-equipped environment instead.

Shockingly grand was the exterior; modern Korean architecture was noteworthy indeed. If observed from afar, the rectangular cutout forming the entrance served to frame N Seoul Tower and its surrounding mountains perfectly.

Climbing up the stairs, one would find an observation deck and map highlighting nearby landmarks.

We experienced confusion in locating the main entrance, for the arrows pointed towards various names, some of which did not imply a clear path. Eventually, we followed the masses and entered through an unlabelled doorway.

Complimentary day lockers and water refill stations were further noteworthy elements. We appreciated these features immensely, having purchased weighty oranges and delicate grapes from Ichon Market.

Entry into the museum would require passing through concert-level security screening, complete with metal detectors. There was minimal communication between the guards and visitors, nor were bags opened for visual inspection.

My interest in the museum terminated shortly after entering the first room. The facility was a warehouse of neatly displayed artifacts, but failed to incorporate interactive areas to spur interest in history and culture. Despite my browsing partner defending the POI ("It's a great museum!"), I begged to differ. It was incredibly boring, to the point where I was losing my mind.

View the full album HERE !

I quickly pivoted towards the ground level gift shop. Its offerings were unique and definitely reflective of Korean culture. That said, the prices were far too steep to justify as an impulse purchase.

As impatience continued to rise, my footsteps quickened, bringing me to wander the second floor exhibits before my browsing partner finished a leisurely ground level saunter.

Piquing my interest were the architectural elements of the museum, Hanok replicas, and floor-to-ceiling LED displays.

On our way over, I had noted to the National Hangeul Museum sharing the space. East Asian countries pay homage to thousands of years of history, consequently showcasing tremendous growth and evolution in language and writing system. While I entertained the idea of parting ways to explore independently, my browsing partner was adamant on joint travels, much to my displeasure. Artifacts and still rooms were a complete drag and waste of time; I could practically feel the environment draining whatever energy was left of me.

Well-illuminated areas with a view were a tad more bearable, but only by a smidge.

The museum appeared to be rooted deeply in Buddhism, for there was at least one exhibit dedicated entirely to Buddhist sculptures and infographics.

I begged to leave as soon as possible, or at least be given permission to venture elsewhere on a solo hunt for happiness. With every passing second in the National Museum, I began to question my presence: "Why am I even here, being miserable on my vacation?!"