What's on

What's on

Exhibitions, events and programmes at Korea's national institutions that a visitor who does not read Korean can actually attend. Each one gives the dates, what it costs, whether you can book without a Korean phone number, and how much English to expect.

This weekend

Year-roundKorea Tourism Organization · 686-4 Gwangwon-ri, Naemyeon, Hongcheon County, Gangwon StateHongcheon Ginkgo Forest opens free each October — 2026 dates unannouncedYear-roundFree
Year-roundNational Institute of Ecology · Special exhibition hall, Ecorium, National Institute of EcologyThe ant exhibition at Korea's National Institute of EcologyYear-roundFree
28 Apr – 15 NovNational Institute of Ecology · Ecorium entrance, National Institute of Ecology, SeocheonOrangerie at the National Institute of Ecology, Seocheon — potted olives and palms until 15 NovemberOn now
27 Aug – 9 FebNational Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea · MMCA Seoul, galleries 3, 4 and 5 on basement level 1 and the MMCA Studio on level 2, 30 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-guHow to get into the Do Ho Suh show at MMCA Seoul, where tickets drop weeklyOn now
1 Sept – 15 NovKorea National Park Service · Woljeongsa car park, Odaesan National ParkOdaesan: a car to Sangwonsa for less-mobile visitors — to 15 NovOn now
1 Sept – 28 FebKorea National Park Service · Chilseon Valley, Jirisan National Park, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam. Starts at the Chuseong car parkJirisan's Chilseon Valley gets a QR stamp trail with AI narration, in English tooOn nowFree
From 1 SeptKorea National Park Service · Naejangsan National Park, Jeongeup, Jeonbuk — visitor centre to the 108 Maple Road, the natural-monument maple, and Naejangsa templeNaejangsan's new wishing trail, and when the maples actually turnOn nowFree
1 Sept – 29 NovNational Museum of Korea · Gochang Dolmen Museum, Seongju Seongsan-dong Tumuli Exhibition Hall, and Cheongdo MuseumNational treasures are touring three small county museums until late NovemberOn nowFree
4 Sept – 8 NovKorea Tourism Organization · Six sites nationwide — Hongseong, Bonghwa, Nonsan, Yangyang, Mungyeong, CheongsongSix autumn food festivals in Korea — pine mushrooms 15–18 Oct, jeotgal, apples, and shrimp until 8 NovOn nowFree
4 Sept – 20 NovNational Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea · MMCA Seoul, 30 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu — meet at the red postbox beside the museum shopMMCA Seoul's architecture tour, and the four centuries stacked under itOn nowFree
6 Sept – 25 OctKorea Tourism Organization · Jamsugyo Bridge and Banpo Hangang ParkCar-free Jamsugyo Bridge festival, Seoul — last season, Sundays to 25 OctoberEnding soonFree
From 10 SeptNational Institute of Ecology · National Institute of Ecology, EcoriumA new climate gallery opens the Ecorium — Seocheon, KRW 5,000On now
11 Sept – 31 MarNational Institute of Biological Resources · National Institute of Biological ResourcesFree tidal-flat plant exhibition near Incheon Airport — to March 2027On nowFree
15 Sept – 22 AugNational Folk Museum of Korea · National Folk Museum of Korea Paju, Open Conservation LabA paper game board that folds shut — free at the Folk Museum's Paju siteOn nowFree
16 Sept – 4 JanNational Palace Museum of Korea · Musée Guimet, ParisA Joseon royal book screen in Paris — Musée Guimet, until 4 January 2027On now
16 Sept – 28 OctNational Folk Museum of Korea · Traditional Culture Learning Centre and outdoor exhibition area, National Folk Museum of KoreaFolk Museum ghost-story evenings — all five sessions full, how cancellations workOn nowFree
18 Sept – 1 NovRoyal Palaces and Tombs Center · Online (pungsokdo.com)Genre Painting for All 2026: make a Joseon character — free to 1 NovOn nowFree
18 Sept – 14 FebGimhae National Museum · Gimhae National Museum, special exhibition hall, third floor, 190 Gayaui-gil, Gimhae, GyeongnamGimhae shows a camel-shaped pot from a Gaya grave, free, until FebruaryOn nowFree
From 21 SeptKorea National Park Service · Songnisan National Park, Beopjusa to Sujeongbong, Boeun-gun, ChungbukA new 30-minute trail at Songnisan opens on 21 September, with a view over BeopjusaOn nowFree
22 Sept – 1 MarGongju National Museum · Gongju National Museum, special exhibition hallGyeryongsan special exhibition at Gongju National Museum — free until 1 March 2027On nowFree
22 Sept – 28 FebJinju National Museum · Special Exhibition Gallery, Jinju National MuseumJinju National Museum: the Duam donation show — to 28 Feb 2027On now
22 Sept – 8 NovRoyal Palaces and Tombs Center · Changdeokgung Palace, Seongjeonggak and Gwanmulheon, 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, SeoulChangdeokgung opens the Huiuru pavilion for the first time, 22 September to 8 NovemberOn nowFree
23 Sept – 18 JanGyeongju National Museum · Shanghai Museum East Building, Special Exhibition Hall 2Silla's gold crown is in Shanghai — free, until 18 January 2027On nowFree
28 Sept – 8 NovKorea Heritage Service · Tongdosa Temple, Yangsan · Yongdusa Iron Flagpole district, Cheongju · Jinnamgwan, YeosuTongdosa, Cheongju, Yeosu: heritage media art to 8 Nov, freeOn nowFree
29 Sept – 29 NovNational Museum of Korea · National Museum of Korea museum shopBTS Dalmajung × National Museum of Korea goods — pop-up to 11 OctOn now
30 Sept – 29 NovKorea National Arboretum · Children's Garden, Korea National ArboretumKorea National Arboretum weeds exhibition — hands-on, to 29 NovOn nowFree
1 Oct – 29 NovRoyal Palaces and Tombs Center · Nine Joseon royal tombs (Seoul, Guri, Namyangju, Paju, Hwaseong, Yeoju)Joseon royal tomb forest trails open for autumn — until 29 NovemberOn now
1 Oct – 30 NovMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism · Theatres nationwide, KoreaKorea's autumn stage season: 1,700 shows, SPAF and the KRW 10,000 coupon — 1 Oct to 30 NovOn now
1 Oct – 31 DecKorea National Park Service · Sangui Visitor Centre, Juwangsan National ParkJuwangsan National Park shows a 1939 guidebook in Korean translation — free, 1 Oct to year-endOn nowFree
1 Oct – 30 NovKorea National Park Service · Haegeumgang–Ujebong–Seokgae Beach trail, Hallyeohaesang National ParkGeoje's Haegeumgang Ujebong trail is capped — 1 Oct to 30 NovOn now
1 Oct – 30 NovKorea National Park Service · Heullimgol Trail Support Center, Seoraksan National ParkSeoraksan's Heullimgol trail goes booking-only — 1 Oct to 30 NovOn nowFree
1 Oct – 31 OctKorea National Park Service · Deogyusan National Park Visitor Centre, MujuDeogyusan's 'Beyond Green' photo show — free all OctoberOn nowFree
1 Oct – 31 OctKorea National Park Service · Jirisan, Hallyeohaesang, Byeonsanbando and Bukhansan eco-education centresFree ranger-guided walks in four national parks — October 2026 onlyOn nowFree
1 Oct – 31 JanNational Museum of Korea · Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery, Room 35, British Museum, LondonThe British Museum's Korea show opens 1 October, the first of its size in Europe in four decadesOn now
3 Oct – 15 NovKorea National Park Service · Guryong area, Chiaksan National Park, WonjuChiaksan: free weekend shuttle to Guryongsa — to 15 NovOn nowFree
7 Oct – 28 OctNational Museum of Korea · National Museum of KoreaWednesday-night curator talks at the National Museum of Korea — October, in KoreanOn nowFree
7 Oct – 1 NovRoyal Palaces and Tombs Center · Around Chundangji pond, Changgyeonggung Palace, 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, SeoulChanggyeonggung's night light show now needs a ticket: 7 October to 1 NovemberOn now
8 Oct – 13 DecNational Palace Museum of Korea · National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, 2nd-floor special gallery (Odaesan, Pyeongchang)Odaesan's Annals Museum revives King Jeongjo's army in light — free until 13 DecemberOn nowFree
14 Oct – 28 OctNational Museum of Korea · National Museum of Korea, permanent galleries and the education wing, SeoulWednesday nights at the National Museum of Korea: what is open, and what needs KoreanOn nowFree
16 Oct – 15 NovKorea National Park Service · National Park Shop, Sangui Visitor Centre, Juwangsan National Park (146 Gongwon-gil, Juwangsan-myeon, Cheongsong-gun)Nungnungi pop-up at Juwangsan National Park's shop — 23 Oct–15 Nov, preview 16–18 OctOn nowFree
17 Oct – 1 NovKorea Tourism Organization · Hwangmaesan County Park, Hapcheon (South Gyeongsang) · Gangjin Bay Ecological Park, Gangjin (South Jeolla)Hwangmaesan silver grass and Gangjin reed festivals — free, both open 24–25 October 2026On nowFree
23 Oct – 24 JanNational Museum of Korea · Central Asia Gallery, 3F Permanent Exhibition Hall, National Museum of Korea, SeoulDunhuang sutras on show for the first time at the National Museum of Korea — free until 24 JanIn 4 daysFree
23 Oct – 15 NovKorea Tourism Organization · Five towns — Hampyeong, Iksan, Buyeo, Yeongam and Masan (Changwon)Korea's autumn chrysanthemum festivals 2026 — five dates, one paid entry, and the weekend all are openIn 4 days

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