A Special Space Where the Past Meets the Present
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- blog.naver.com
A Special Space Where the Past Meets the Present
National Folk Museum of Korea, Paju
I always thought museums were just places to look at through glass, but here, you can actually walk in through the storage doors.
The National Folk Museum of Korea in Paju opens its storage areas to visitors, allowing them to see artifacts up close.
Since I had made a reservation for the children's museum experience, I visited on a weekday last week.
In short, both admission and parking were free, and as a parent, I was truly impressed by the storage area.
The children's museum requires a reservation, so if you have kids, I recommend planning your visit accordingly!
Address: 30 Heyri-ro, Tan-hyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM)
Closed on Mondays
Free Admission and Parking
Among the free museums in Paju, the accessibility is quite good.
The parking lot is free and exclusively for visitors, but vehicles can only enter between 10 AM and 6 PM.
General admission does not require a reservation, and the only area that does is the children's museum.
The open storage area begins at the lobby, featuring a high-ceilinged tower filled with jars, pottery, and grinding stones.
Since ceramics and stone artifacts are less sensitive to sunlight and humidity, they can be displayed this way.
Just encountering this scene made me feel that visiting was a great decision.
Walking directly into the storage area is the highlight of this visit.
There are 7 accessible open storage areas and 3 visible storage areas that can be viewed through glass.
Combining storage and exhibition reduces the distance between visitors and artifacts.
It felt distinctly different from typical museums where you only see a few selected items curated by staff.
Instead of decorated display cases, the shelves and storage units holding artifacts are exposed.
With dozens of similar items collected together, the experience is overwhelming in quantity.
Even though they may look similar, the variations in size and patterns make it fun to compare them side by side.
The Paju Children's Museum reopened in May 2026 after renovations.
The permanent exhibition, "Sparkle, Bounce, and Play," allows children to experience the process of their cherished items becoming part of the museum's collection.
Reservations can be made through the museum's website.
Reservations open 30 days in advance and fill up quickly, especially on weekends.
It's essential to include the number of adults when making reservations, as the total capacity is 60, including guardians.
Sessions are available at 10:10 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4:00 PM, each lasting 70 minutes.
If you miss the reservation, same-day tickets may be available on-site.
Before making a reservation, be cautious of scams pretending to be the museum.
Admission to the children's museum is free, so be wary of any requests for payment.
The open conservation lab showcases the process of repairing and preserving artifacts.
Currently, there is an exhibition titled "Secrets of the Paper Yut Board Revealed by Conservation Science," running until August 22, 2027.
The exhibition reveals the hidden stories of an old paper Yut board through conservation science.
If you're planning a half-day trip with kids in Paju, timing is crucial.
The first session ends at 11:20 AM, and the second starts at 1:00 PM, creating a gap for lunch.
Visiting the storage area first and then having lunch before the 1:00 PM session worked perfectly.
The Folk Archive is a space to explore folk records like photos, videos, audio, and publications.
Since it houses records rather than artifacts, the atmosphere resembles that of a library.
If you have time before the children's museum session, it's a nice place to stop by.
In November, if you're looking for indoor activities, this museum will surely satisfy.
Remember that both parking and admission are free, but the parking lot closes at 6 PM.
If you're looking for places to visit with elementary school children or need a spot to go on a rainy day, save the National Folk Museum of Korea in Paju and plan your visit accordingly!
Source :https://blog.naver.com/paju_si/224464828672
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