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The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) Seoul

No. 34 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 2,112,210 visitors in 2025

MMCA Seoul

Seoul, South Korea · City guide: Seoul

Korea's national museum of contemporary art, between Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Bukchon hanok village.

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Photo: 서울연구원, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

MMCA Seoul is No. 34 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 2,112,210 visitors in 2025, up 28% on 2024. It is the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, which also has sites at Gwacheon, Deoksugung Palace and Cheongju.

Opened in 2013, the low-rise museum sits between Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Bukchon hanok village, arranged around open courtyards (madang). It also includes a restored Joseon-dynasty building, Jongchinbu.

The courtyard of MMCA Seoul
The courtyard of MMCA Seoul. Photo: jens kuu, CC BY 2.0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest. Check the official website for hours and current exhibitions.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Exhibitions

    Changing exhibitions of contemporary Korean and international art fill the galleries.

  • 2

    Courtyards

    Open-air courtyards between the galleries host installations and offer views of the surrounding hills.

  • 3

    Jongchinbu

    A Joseon-dynasty royal office building preserved on the museum site.

  • 4

    Neighbourhood

    Combine a visit with Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon and the galleries of Samcheong-dong.

Getting there

The museum is at 30 Samcheong-ro in Jongno-gu. Anguk station (Line 3) is about a 10-minute walk away, and Gyeongbokgung station is a little further.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Tickets are inexpensive and some exhibitions are free. Check the official website for prices and hours.
Time needed
One to three 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: MMCA (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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