A Kid-Friendly Visit to the National Museum of Korea with a Docent Tour

reply 0 hit 334 date 25-10-18 21:32

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The National Museum of Korea was a must-see destination on our Seoul trip with the kids!

While the museum is currently trending, I was concerned that my elementary school-aged children might find it boring or difficult to understand.

So, to make our history more engaging and accessible for them, I booked a docent tour tailored to their level.

That day, the blue autumn sky was beautiful, and the weather was perfect.

Here's my review of the National Museum of Korea docent tour! ♡

We traveled by subway.

Take Exit 2 of Ichon Station (Line 4)

The Museum Trail moving walkway made access easy.

It's open from 7 AM to 11 PM.

(Please note that the Museum Trail is closed on museum closure days.)

Taking the escalator up, you'll find the National Museum of Korea on your left.

Walking up the stairs, we headed to the Permanent Exhibition Hall on the right. (Admission is free.)

If you have a bag, you can enter by lining up at the security checkpoint on the right.

After passing through security, there are restrooms immediately to the right, so it's a good idea to prepare the kids before the tour.

(Please note that food other than bottled water is not allowed.)

The meeting point is in front of the Stele of King Gwanggaeto.

Our tour was at 1:30 PM.

We met our teacher and friends who would be studying together. We put on the transmitter/receiver and earphones needed for the docent tour, and we were ready to go!

The tour lasted 120 minutes, and we agreed to meet back at the Stele of King Gwanggaeto at 3:30 PM.

Have fun! ♡

*The museum was dry and somewhat warm inside.

Even though it was early October, I was sweating even when standing still in long sleeves.

I recommend dressing the kids as lightly and comfortably as possible, making sure they drink plenty of water before the tour, and not bringing a bag (to avoid being burdened).

While the kids were on their tour, I explored the museum.

The first floor features exhibits from prehistoric times to the modern and contemporary eras.

The second floor houses the Contemplation Room, and the third floor displays Moon Jars.

First, I went up to the second-floor Contemplation Room, which I had been wanting to see.

The Contemplation Room is a space where two National Treasure Pensive Bodhisattva statues are exhibited together.

There's a limit to the number of people allowed in at once, so you have to wait in line to enter. When I went, the wait time was about 10 minutes.

There were a lot of people around, but I wanted to focus solely on the Pensive Bodhisattva statues, so I edited the photos I took myself.

Inside, you can encounter the Pensive Bodhisattva statues displayed in a quiet and mystical space.

It felt like being in the universe or in the deep contemplative space of the human mind.

The two Pensive Bodhisattva statues each had a different appearance, but I could see smiles on their faces as they contemplated with their eyes closed.

The Pensive Bodhisattva statue on the right was slightly larger.

As I walked around it, it felt more three-dimensional and like I was floating in a dream, detached from reality.

You can observe it from 360 degrees, so you can even see the back.

I also took a video where there weren't many people.

Enjoy! ♡

The ceiling was designed with a subtle and sparkling Milky Way effect, which enhanced the immersion.

The Contemplation Room was such a great space that I want to visit it again when it's quieter and spend more time gazing at the statues. 😍

Next, I'll go see the Moon Jars on the third floor.

The Moon Jars are located in the ceramics exhibit, which features Buncheong ware and white porcelain.

At the entrance, there's a "Moon Jar You Can See With Your Hands" corner where you can experience the texture by touch.

When my fingertips first touched it, the cool and moist feeling of the smooth curves felt pleasant.

It was quite a large Moon Jar, big enough to hold in one's arms. The elegance of the white porcelain and the glossy surface gave a comfortable feeling, and the smooth texture was lovely.

Inside the third-floor exhibition hall, there's a space decorated like a potter's workshop.

It was nice to be able to watch a video that explained the pottery-making process.

Next, let's explore the trendy Museum Shop.

I planned to buy each of the kids a souvenir as a reward after their docent tour, so I visited in advance to check it out.

(There's also a museum shop inside the Permanent Exhibition Hall, but it's small, so I recommend using the one near the entrance for a proper look.)

The Museum Shop is on the right side of the entrance.

It was fun to see the real items of the popular goods that sell out as soon as they arrive and to browse the unique and stylish merchandise. 😍

I bought a keyring as a gift and a mother-of-pearl lacquer magnet.

I'll post a separate review of the Museum Shop visit with the kids later. ♡

As I was looking around, it was time to meet the kids.

Today's docent tour covered the Joseon Dynasty.

(Kids' photos will be available on the cafe later.)

They must have been busy with the tour, but I'm so grateful that they remembered to take photos.

They even thoroughly reviewed the activity sheets. 😍

Thank you to Teacher Star Butterfly for the docent tour filled with love and care. ❤️

I hope we have the chance to meet again in the future.

The kids' reactions after the tour were better than expected, which made me feel so proud.

They confidently quizzed us and seemed to have developed an interest in history, which made me very satisfied. They want to take tours on other historical periods as well, so I'm planning to try again. :)

Now that the docent tour is over, it's time to go to the Museum Shop with the kids to choose their gifts! 😍😍😍

I'll also post a review of our Museum Shop visit with the kids. :)

I had a lot of concerns while planning our visit to the National Museum of Korea with elementary school kids, but the docent tour was very satisfying.

I hope my review is helpful. Thank you.