On December 26, 2012, Korea’s first national contemporary history museum opened its doors to the public. The museum presents over 1,500 relics benchmarking Korean history in the arenas of politics, economy, society, and culture, beginning from the end of 19th century when the nation opened its ports to the outside world to today.

The museum is an eight-story building covering a total area of 6,445 square meters and is equipped with six exhibit halls, storage, seminar rooms, a cafeteria, a souvenir store, and a rooftop garden. The building, previously the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was renovated into the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History.

The permanent exhibition consists of four distinct periods in modern Korean history that presents the story of the Korean miracle: how Korea was able to transform itself from one of the poorest to one of the most developed countries in the world in just sixty years. International visitors and especially students who are interested in learning about Korea's amazing progress and its future place in world history will definitely want to make a point to visit.

About 3,000㎡ of space spread over three floors has been devoted to the history of the Korean miracle, from the early days after the country regained independence in 1945 to the modern times.

Third floor: ▶ Attempt to Establish an Independent Modern Nation ▶ Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the Independence Movement ▶ Liberation of Korea, 1945.

Fourth floor: ▶ Establishment of the Republic of Korea’s Government ▶ The Korean War and Post-war Recovery ▶ Building a Modern Nation

Fifth floor: ▶ Economic Development and Industrialization ▶ Transformation of Urban and Rural Areas ▶ Growth of Civil Society and Democracy ▶ Korea’s Embrace of Globalization ▶ Towards Developed Nation ▶ Future of Korea

The exhibits, set to utilize the latest high-tech information and cultural technologies, display 1,500 pieces of historical relics including autographs of patriot Ahn Jung-geun, the Declaration of Independence, keepsakes left by war dead, and Korea’s first exported car the Pony. Furthermore a vast collection of everyday items such as a nurse's paystubs and letters testify to the enormous sacrifice that ordinary Koreans have had to make for their country.

The museum has acquired over 40,000 such items through donations and direct purchases since 2010.

On the first floor, a video that captures Korea’s significant historic political, economic, societal, and cultural moments interacts with visitors who are given an opportunity to extend their knowledge of the nation.

* About : On December 26, 2012, Korea’s first national contemporary history museum opened its doors to the public. The museum presents over 1,500 relics benchmarking Korean history in the arenas of politics, economy, society, and culture, with a focus on the period from the end of 19th century when the nation opened its ports to the outside world to today.

The permanent exhibition consists of four distinct periods in modern Korean history that presents the story of the Korean miracle: how Korea was able to transform itself from one of the poorest to one of the most developed countries in the world in just sixty years. International visitors and especially students who are interested in learning about Korea's amazing progress and its future place in world history will definitely want to make a point to visit.
* Hours of Operation 9 a.m. ~ 6 p.m. Last entry one hour before closing
* Holiday : Closed on Mondays and on January 1 (If Monday is a holiday, the museum will be closed on the following working day)
* Price : Free
* Other Facilities :
- First Floor: Nursery, Bicycle Parking Station, Medical Room, Coin Lockers
- Third Floor: Cafeteria and Museum Shop
- Eighth Floor: Hwangtomaru Garden with a view of Gyeongbokgung, Gwanghwamun Square, and other sights and attractions