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Gongju National Museum

No. 89 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 868,555 visitors in 2025

Gongju National Museum

Gongju, South Korea · City guide: Gongju

The golden treasures of King Muryeong's tomb, in Baekje's second royal capital.

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Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Gongju National Museum is No. 89 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 868,555 visitors in 2025. It stands in Gongju, known as Ungjin when it was the capital of the Baekje kingdom from 475 to 538.

Its main collection comes from the Tomb of King Muryeong, found intact in 1971, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Korea. The nearby royal tombs and fortress are part of the Baekje Historic Areas UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The stone tomb guardian from King Muryeong's tomb
The stone tomb guardian from King Muryeong's tomb. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest. Spring and autumn are best for combining the museum with the tombs and fortress.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    King Muryeong's treasures

    Gold crown ornaments, earrings, a stone tomb guardian and the royal epitaph stones.

  • 2

    Baekje culture

    Pottery, ornaments and objects from the Ungjin period.

  • 3

    Royal Tombs of Songsan-ri

    The burial mounds of the Baekje kings, including King Muryeong's tomb, about 1 km away.

  • 4

    Gongsanseong Fortress

    A Baekje mountain fortress with walls and gates above the Geumgang River.

Getting there

Express buses from Seoul reach Gongju in about 1.5 hours. Gongju station on the KTX high-speed line is outside town, about 20 minutes by bus or taxi. The museum is a short taxi ride from the centre.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Entry to the permanent galleries is free. Check the official website for hours and closing days.
Time needed
One to two hours.
Currency
South Korean won (KRW). Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Visa & entry
Citizens of 22 countries and regions, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and several EU countries, are exempt from the K-ETA until 31 December 2026 and fill in an e-Arrival card instead. Other visa-free visitors need a K-ETA before boarding. Apply only at k-eta.go.kr.

Official information: Gongju National Museum (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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