Places · Science museums · Ministry of Science and ICT
National Science Museums: hours, closing days and admission
Korea's national science museums keep their permanent halls free and charge separately for the things with fixed capacity — the planetarium, the children's science museum and special exhibitions. The central one, in Daejeon, is a campus of separate buildings rather than a single museum.
Hours, closing days and admission, side by side
Checked against each institution's own visitor pages on 2026-09-21. Fees and hours change — follow the official link in the table before you travel.
| Place | Region | Hours | Closed | Admission | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Science MuseumMinistry of Science and ICT | Daejeon | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; last admission differs from hall to hall | Mondays, 1 January, and the day of Seollal and of Chuseok | Permanent exhibition halls free. The children's science museum, the planetarium and special exhibitions are ticketed or booked, with prices on the integrated reservation system | Official |
About National Science Museums
The National Science Museum in Daejeon is the hub of the system and is laid out as a campus: natural history, human and technology, future technology and astronomy each occupy their own building on a large site in the research district. Gwacheon National Science Museum, just south of Seoul, is the one most easily reached from the capital, and there are regional counterparts in Gwangju, Daegu and Busan.
They are among the best-value institutions in the country for anyone travelling with children: the permanent halls cost nothing, and the paid parts are optional extras rather than the main event. The trade-off is that almost everything with a ticket also has a capacity limit and therefore a booking system, and those systems are Korean-language.
- Daejeon is about an hour from Seoul by KTX, which makes the central museum a realistic day trip.
- Choose two or three halls in advance — trying to see a whole science campus in a day does not work.
Science museums, one by one
Names that link go to our visiting guide; the rest go straight to the institution's own site.
Frequently asked questions
Are the science museums free?
The permanent exhibition halls are, which is the bulk of what there is to see. Planetariums, children's science museums and special exhibitions charge and are booked separately, and those are usually the parts families most want, so they are worth arranging before you travel.
Which one should I go to?
Gwacheon if you are based in Seoul and want the shortest journey; Daejeon if you want the largest and are willing to spend an hour on a KTX. The central museum in Daejeon also runs a nationwide directory of science museums, which is the fastest way to find whichever is nearest to you.
Is there enough in English?
The major exhibits are labelled bilingually, but hands-on stations, demonstrations and planetarium shows are generally Korean only. That matters less than it sounds for younger children and more for teenagers who would otherwise read the panels.
When are they closed?
Mondays, 1 January, and the days of Seollal and Chuseok, following the same pattern as most national institutions. Individual halls also close for refurbishment from time to time, so it is worth checking which buildings are open before a long journey.
Pages checked: www.science.go.kr · smart.science.go.kr