National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, History museum in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea.
The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History occupies the former north building of USAID near Gyeongbokgung. Its four permanent halls run from the late 19th century to the present, titled "Prelude to the Republic of Korea", "Foundation of the Republic of Korea", "Development of the Republic of Korea" and "Modernization and Korea's Vision of Future". A children's museum and special exhibition galleries occupy other floors.
Established in 2012, the museum documents Korea's journey from Japanese colonial rule through liberation, the Korean War, democratization movements, and rapid industrialization that shaped contemporary Korean society.
The museum preserves Korea's modern heritage through artifacts, photographs, and personal stories that illustrate the resilience and determination of Korean people during periods of conflict, reconstruction, and democratic transformation.
Open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 with extended hours until 21:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the museum offers free admission and is easily accessible via Seoul's public transportation system.
The museum occupies the former north building of USAID beside Gyeongbokgung, and admission is free. A 2018–2019 special exhibition on prisoners of war drew protests after its captions cited North Korean prisoner statistics; the museum removed the table and acknowledged the distortion.
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