63 cultural facilities that have been closed since February 25, 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 reopened after about 70 days. To practice the “social distancing in daily life” campaign, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will be gradually resuming operation of these facilities based on an advanced reservation system and partial openings.
On May 6, the day that the city initiated the “social distancing in daily life” campaign, 63 cultural facilities operated by the SMG, including ▴ libraries, ▴ museums, ▴ performance halls, and more, reopened for a step-by-step recommencement of their services. If you want to pay a visit to one of the facilities, it is best to first check the website to learn what to prepare, as each facility suggests different requirements. All visitors should follow the directions for disinfection, such as wearing masks and having their body temperature checked before entry.
<Seoul Metropolitan Library Resumes Lending Service for Reserved Books>
Seoul Metropolitan Library operates the lending service for reserved books from May 6-24. If you reserve books to borrow and visit the library, you can borrow the books at a temporary lending counter. Up to 300 people per day (200 people on Saturday or Sunday) can lend up to 5 books for 2 weeks (one-time extension of the lending period available, a maximum of 3 weeks). To return the books, you can use the unmanned box at the back gate of the library. According to the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the library has plans to normalize its service where users can borrow and return books that they find on the bookshelves starting May 26.
<Museums Limit the Number of Visitors through Advanced Reservations>
Municipal museums, such as the Seoul Museum of History and the Seoul Baekje Museum, have resumed their services for a limited number of visitors who make reservations in advance. Everyone can make a reservation for free on the Seoul Public Service Reservation website (http://yeyak.seoul.go.kr). Details on the number of persons to be admitted and the hours of operation of the facilities can be checked on their official websites.
Art museums, including Seoul Museum of Art, Buk-Seoul Museum of Art, Nam-Seoul Museum of Art, and more, have reopened their doors to receive visitors through online reservation starting on May 6 (Wed.). You can make a reservation on a first-come, first-served basis on the Seoul Public Service Reservation website. The in-person docent service has not been resumed yet, but visitors can still listen to explanations of the exhibitions through the mobile application, “Seoul Museum of Art.”
<Performance Halls and Other Cultural Facilities Reopen>
Performance halls, such as the Seoul Namsan Gukakdang, Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater, and Sejong Center, that have held performances without audiences are now preparing for greeting on-site audiences. In May, they will sell tickets through reservations for 30-50% off seats so that audiences can sit distanced from each other to watch performances.
Seoul Book Bogo, the nation’s first public secondhand bookstore, resumed operation on May 6. From May 6-24, only the space with bookshelves and the exhibition hall will be open and cultural programs including lectures will be provided online. Depending on the progress of COVID-19, Seoul Book Bogo will reopen the book cafe and allow visitors to read used books starting on May 26.
<Safe Enjoyment of Performances and Exhibitions at Home>
Aside from the aforementioned facilities, many online culture and art programs will be provided in May that will bring comfort to the hearts of citizens who feel exhausted in body and soul due to the COVID-19 crisis. You can safely and comfortably enjoy cultural life online at home, including real-time broadcasting of traditional Korean music, musicals, and dances, as well as VR exhibitions and traditional cultural experiences.
※ Available time for a visit may differ from the schedule due to the requirement of advanced reservation or partial openings.
# | Name of Facility | Reopening | Address | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 Museums | ||||
1 | Seoul Museum of History | May 6 | 55, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu | museum.seoul.go.kr |
2 | Gyeonggyojang Hall | Closed *Located in the hospital |
29, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu | |
3 | Baek Inje’s House | May 6 | 16, Bukchon-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu | |
4 | Donuimun History Museum | May 6 | 35-54, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu | |
5 | Gongpyeong Historic Sites Museum | May 6 | 26, Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu | |
6 | Gyeonghuigung Palace | May 6 | 55, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu | |
7 | Seoul City Wall Museum | May 6 | 283, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu | |
8 | Dongdaemun History Museum | Under construction | 281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu | |
9 | Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial | May 6 | 1, Eulji-ro 7-ga, Jung-gu | |
10 | Cheonggyecheon Museum | May 6 | 530, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Seongdong-gu | |
11 | Seoul Urban Life Museum | May 6 | 27, Dongil-ro 174-gil, Nowon-gu | |
12 | Seoul Baekje Museum | May 6 | 71, Wiryeseong-daero, Songpa-gu | baekjemuseum.seoul.go.kr |
13 | Donuimun Museum Village | May 6 | Throughout 14-3, Songwol-gil, Jongno-gu | www.dmvillage.info |
14 | Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music | May 6 | 5-9, Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu | gomuseum.seoul.go.kr/sekm |
8 Art Museums | ||||
15 | Seoul Museum of Art | May 6 | 61, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu | sema.seoul.go.kr |
16 | Nam-Seoul Museum of Art | May 6 | 2076, Nambusunhwan-ro, Gwanak-gu | |
17 | Buk-Seoul Museum of Art | May 6 | 1238, Dongil-ro, Nowon-gu | |
18 | SeMA Nanji Residency | Continuous operation | 108-1, Haneulgongwon-ro, Mapo-gu | |
19 | SeMA Bunker | May 6 | B76, Yeoui-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu | |
20 | SeMA Storage | May 6 | 684, Tongil-ro, Eunpyeong-gu | |
21 | Nam June Paik Memorial House | May 6 | 12-1, Jong-ro 53-gil, Jongno-gu | |
22 | Sejong Museum of Art 1, 2 | Continuous operation | 175, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu | www.sejongpac.or.kr |
3 Libraries | ||||
23 | Seoul Metropolitan Library | May 6 | 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu | lib.seoul.go.kr |
24 | Seoul Historiography Institute | May 6 | 424, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu | history.seoul.go.kr |
25 | Seoul Treasure Den for Books | May 6 | 1, Ogeum-ro, Songpa-gu | www.seoulbookbogo.kr |
8 Performance Halls | ||||
26 | Sejong Grand Theater | Continuous operation | 175, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu | www.sejongpac.or.kr |
27 | Dream Forest Art Center | Continuous operation | 173, Wolgye-ro, Gangbuk-gu | |
28 | Samcheonggak | Continuous operation | 3, Daesagwan-ro, Seongbuk-gu | |
29 | Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater | May 6 | 102, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu | sdtt.or.kr |
30 | Seoul Namsan Gukakdang | May 6 | 28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu | www.hanokmaeul.or.kr |
31 | Namsan Arts Center | May 6 | 138, Sopa-ro, Jung-gu | www.nsac.or.kr |
32 | Samil-ro Changgo Theater | May 6 | 12, Samil-daero 9-gil, Jung-gu | |
33 | Seoul Silver Cinema | May 8 | 22, Saemunan-ro, Jung-gu | cafe.naver.com/seoulsilvercinema |
30 Other Facilities | ||||
34 | Namsangol Hanok Village | May 6 | 28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu | www.hanokmaeul.or.kr |
35 | Unhyeongung Palace | May 6 | 464, Samil-daero, Jongno-gu | www.unhyeongung.or.kr |
36 | DDP | May 6 | 281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu | www.ddp.or.kr |
37 | Sindangdong (Park Chung-hee’s House) | May 6 | 25, Dasan-ro 36ga-gil, Jung-gu | yeyak.seoul.go.kr (viewing reservations) |
38 | Choi Kyu-hah’s House | May 6 | 10, Donggyo-ro 15-gil, Mapo-gu | |
39 | Yi Sang-beom’s House | May 6 | 31-7, Pirundae-ro, Jongno-gu | |
40 | Yun Geukyeong’s House | May 6 | 5, Insubong-ro 84-gil, Gangbuk-gu | www.bandal.org |
41 | Bosingak Belfry Site | May 6 | 54, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu | culture.seoul.go.kr |
42 | Hanyangdoseong Hyehwa-dong Exhibition & Visitor Center | May 6 | 63, Changgyeonggung-ro 35-gil, Jongno-gu | seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr |
43 | Sindorim Artspace | May 6 | B1, 117-21, Saemal-ro, Guro-gu | www.artgori.or.kr |
44 | Chebudong Community Arts Support Center | May 6 | 3-2, Jahamun-ro 1na-gil, Jongno-gu | www.ccasc.or.kr |
45 | Peace and Culture Bunker | May 6 | 932, Madeul-ro, Dobong-gu | http://culturebunker.or.kr/ |
46 | The Story of Sejong & The Story of the Admiral Yisunshin | In June | 175, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu | www.sejongstory.or.kr |
47 | Sejong Arts Academy | May 6 | 175, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu | www.sejongpac.or.kr |
48 | Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage Center | May 6 | 13, Yulgok-ro 10-gil, Jongno-gu 20-13, Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu |
www.seoulmaster.co.kr |
49 | Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture | May 6 | 517, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Dongdaemun-gu | www.sfac.or.kr |
50 | Seoul Theater Center | May 6 | 253-1, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu | |
51 | Seoul Creative Center Namsan | May 6 | 82, Toegye-ro 26ga-gil, Jung-gu | |
52 | Seogyo Arts Experiment Center | May 6 | 33, Jandari-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu | |
53 | Seoul Art Space Geumcheon | Continuous operation | 57, Beoman-ro 15-gil, Geumcheon-gu | |
54 | Seoul Art Space Sindang | Continuous operation | 87, Majang-ro, Jung-gu | |
55 | Seoul Art Space Yeonhui | Continuous operation | 6-7, Jeungga-ro 2-gil, Seodaemun-gu | |
56 | Seoul Art Space Mullae | May 6 | 5-4, Gyeongin-ro 88-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu | |
57 | Seoul Dance Center | May 6 | 14, Myongji 2-gil, Seodaemun-gu | |
58 | Seoul Art Space – Jamsil | Continuous operation | 25, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu | |
59 | Seoul Art and Healing Hub | May 6 | 17, Hoegi-ro 3-gil, Seongbuk-gu | |
60 | Seoul Art Space Gwanak | May 20 | 3, Euncheon-ro 10-gil, Gwanak-gu | |
61 | Seoul Street Arts Creation Center | May 6 | 710, Achasan-ro, Gwangjin-gu | |
62 | Seoseoul Arts Education Center | May 11 | 2, Nambusunhwan-ro 64-gil, Yangcheon-gu | |
63 | (former) Dongsoong Art Center | Under construction | 19, Sungkyunkwan-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu |