The 9 Quirkiest Museums in Seoul You Need to See

Incredible music? Check.  

Iconic filming sites? Check.

Tasty dishes? Check. 

Lots of shopping? Check. 

Quirky museums? You bet — Seoul has it! 

Ladies and gents welcome to South Korea’s lively capital! Beyond K-pop and K-drama, Seoul is a budding art hub in Asia, jam-packed with unusual yet cool museums. Whether it’s a gallery dedicated to kimchi (the Korean food staple) or an entire building filled with knives and mind-boggling optical illusions, you’re in it for a fun time!

Ready to hop on bizarre adventures? Scroll on and discover 9 quirky museums in Seoul!

The “do not touch” rule does not exist in this fun-filled museum. In the vibrant neighborhood of Insadong, the Alive Museum hosts some of the city’s most eye-catching, mind-boggling, and massive immersive artworks. Whether it’s a replica of Picasso’s masterpiece or weird and wonderful life-sized paintings, the whole gang can take hilarious pics to share on Instagram!

Feel free to touch, pose, and even become part of the art at the Alive Museum. Bonus: Museum visitors can also try their hands at its indoor attractions. The Dynamic Maze will have your heads scratching as you work on puzzles and take on thrilling challenges to break free of the maze.

Another museum in Seoul with a similar vibe is the Trick Eye Museum. A fantastic gallery brimming with interactive paintings and installations, this museum is an optical illusion paradise fit for those with the wildest imagination. Check out over 50 fun photo zones with your friends and see who’s got the most ridiculous pics. Transform into a mermaid, battle with the sea dragons, fill your camera roll with sensual snaps at the “Erotic” Garden, and more. You’re guaranteed to have a crazy good time at Trick Eye Museum!

Meet Sully from Monster's Inc. in the flesh when you visit the ToyKino Museum! This fun museum in Seoul will take you on a trip down memory lane with its extensive collection of 30,000 toys and figurines of your childhood faves. Whether you were a Disney kid, loved Spongebob, or played pretend Pokemon trainer, you’ll have a blast spotting limited edition toys. Part of the display also includes antique vending machines and board games you can play and take fond memories home to cherish.

Seoul has a long list of quirky museums, so it’s no surprise that there’s one that’s filled with knives! Located in the bustling neighborhood of Insadong, the Knife Gallery houses an unusual collection of 6,000 knives from around the world. This gallery has an odd specialty of locally crafted knives to Japanese blades and tools used in action films! 

As the cherry on top of the gallery visit, you can customize your knife and watch the knife-making process unfold before your eyes.

If you happen to be within the vicinity of Gyeongbokgung Palace and have time to spare, why not make a detour to the Lock Museum nearby? This eccentric museum in Jongno-gu has over 4,000 Korean locks in store for lock lovers, lock collectors, or the curious to see! You only need 20 to 30 minutes to tour the whole place, so it’s best for a quick scenery change between sightseeing trips.

Marvel or DC — there’s no need to pick between the two; the Figure Museum W gives you the best of both worlds. With its impressive collection of superhero toys, figurines, and life-sized statues, this venue is the perfect museum in Seoul to let out your inner geek! 

Spot Spiderman hanging by the wall, and maybe even blow him a kiss to recreate that iconic Mary Jane and Peter Parker moment. DC fans will be glad to find Joker standing next to the glass cases. And, as for those who grew up watching mecha anime, Gundam and Mazinger Z are waiting on the fourth floor!

The SBA Seoul Animation Center tops our list of cool museums in Seoul to visit with the fam for its cartoon-themed fun. From comic books to exciting adventures with Pororo (South Korea’s beloved penguin show), everyone will have a grand time exploring this mini-paradise!

Inside the center’s Ani Town, the kids will enjoy seeing colorful murals and sculptures. You’ll also encounter fun photo zones, where you and the fam can strike your wackiest pose. Ani Picnic is the perfect spot for a memorable picnic with Pororo, Tayo, Super Wings, and the gang! Inside, you’ll find more areas to take cute snaps and interactive exhibits to school you on digital drawing, stop motion animation, VR flight experience, and more.

When you’re ready to take it slow, just head down to the Comics Cafe, where you can sip a refreshing drink and read over 30,000 comic books FOR FREE!

Besides K-pop and K-drama, what else is South Korea known for? We’ll give you a hint: it starts with the letter K! If your answer is kimchi, you guessed it right! Kimchi is a staple dish at every dining table in the country — from fancy restaurants and hole-in-the-wall dining places to households and even a museum dedicated to it.

Yes, in case you don’t know, there’s a kimchi museum in Seoul called the Museum Kimchikan! You’ll learn about different kimchi types and how to make them. The Museum Kimchikan offers exciting classes that’ll teach you the basics of kimchi making as you enjoy a delightful afternoon of cooking and tasting.

Today, we’re living in the 2020s, but in T. um - SK Telecom Ubiquitous, it’s the year 2050. One of the most fascinating yet strangest museums in Seoul you’ll encounter, this futuristic sci-fi-themed gallery will traverse you across time and space. Step into the new world of innovation and embark on an intergalactic journey by climbing aboard the spaceship, where you’ll come face-to-face with AI robots and the latest tech.

Discover holographic and teleportation rooms that look straight out of Star Trek. During the space expedition, you’ll also have the rare chance to witness AI doctors treating a patient. Now, that’s out of this world!

Can’t wait to visit these 9 quirky museums in Seoul? Be our guest! And, if you’re craving more adventures, check out our thrilling lineup of the best things to do in South Korea!