National Museum of Korea Children's Museum: Free Booking Guide & Half-Day Plan in Seoul

Cold or rainy day in Seoul with kids? The Children's Museum at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan is free, indoors and genuinely fun. The one catch: you need to book.

Quick facts

• Cost: free (Children's Museum and permanent galleries)
• Ages: galleries are designed for 5–9; a separate play zone serves 36 months and under
• Getting there: Ichon Station (Line 4 / Gyeongui-Jungang Line), Exit 2
• Address: 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Korean: 서울 용산구 서빙고로 137)

Booking: 80-minute sessions

• Book on: the museum's website (Children's Museum reservation); show your mobile ticket at entry
• Sessions: 09:30, 11:00, 13:00, 14:30 and 16:00, 320 people each
• Closed: January 1, Lunar New Year, Chuseok, plus December 7 (Mon) for maintenance
• Weekend morning slots fill quickly, so book as soon as you know your date

Food isn't allowed in the galleries; lockers in the waiting area hold bags during your session. Children under 5 need an adult right beside them.

Parking, strollers and nursing rooms

• Parking: 1,000 won for the first hour, then 500 won per 10 minutes (max 30,000 won/day)
• Nursing rooms and stroller rental: available; check the floor map for locations

Lunch inside the museum

No need to go out: there's a food court, cafés and a restaurant on the first floor, a café on the second, and a tea room on the third.

Don't skip the main galleries

The permanent exhibitions are also free and are among the best in Asia. Hours: 09:30–17:30, and until 21:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays (last entry 30 minutes before closing). Pick one or two rooms your kids will like, such as the Silla gold crowns.

A half-day plan

1. 09:30 First Children's Museum session
2. 11:00 A short visit to the main galleries
3. Lunch at the food court
4. Afternoon If it's nice out, walk around the museum's Mirror Pond or Yongsan Family Park next door

Tips for foreign travelers

• The museum website has an English version, but booking pages can be easier in Korean; use your browser's translate feature.
• The galleries have English labels and free audio guide apps.
• Combine with Itaewon or the Han River in the afternoon.

Summary

Free, indoors, and lunch is taken care of. Book a Children's Museum session first, and remember: ages 5–9 for the galleries, 36 months and under for the toddler play zone.