National Folk Museum of Korea 2026: Free Entry Without a Gyeongbokgung Ticket, Hall 1 Closed Until Dec 21

Bottom line: The National Folk Museum of Korea is always free, and if you walk up Samcheong-dong-gil from Anguk Station or Gyeongbokgung Station, you reach it directly without going through Gyeongbokgung Palace's ticket booth. Visit right now, though (as of October 29), and Permanent Exhibition Hall 1 in the main building is closed for renovation from September 30 to December 21 — Halls 2 and 3, the Children's Museum, and the outdoor "Street of Yesteryear" are all open as usual.

If you didn't know: Show up without knowing Hall 1 is closed, and you'll expect three full floors and walk away having seen only two. The hours are easy to get wrong too — from November through February the museum closes at 5 p.m., but right now, March through October, it stays open until 6 p.m., with a late night on Wednesdays until 8 p.m. Plan your day around the winter closing time by mistake and you're giving up one to three hours you actually had.

The museum's own directions, whether you start from Anguk Station, Gyeongbokgung Station, or Gwanghwamun Station, all route you along Samcheong-dong-gil — none of them mention passing through Gyeongbokgung's ticket booth. Outdoors, the "Street of Yesteryear" recreates a 1970s-80s Seoul alley you can walk straight through, past mock comic-book rental shops, pawnshops and tea-house signs, though it's only open on weekdays (closed on weekends and public holidays). The permanent exhibition halls trace a single day, a year, and a lifetime in traditional Korean life, from farm tools to wedding garments — right now only Hall 1 of that set is closed. It's noticeably quieter here than around Gyeongbokgung's crowded main throne hall, which makes it easier to take your time with photos. The Children's Museum runs on timed, reservation-only entry, so same-day walk-ins can be difficult.

Journey stage: ④During the trip · Verified 2026-10-29