Skip to main menu

Skip to main content

Seoul Urban Life Museum

Seoul Urban Life Museum

Located in Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu, where the former Bukbu Legal Complex was located, Seoul Urban Life Museum is a modern cultural facility that preserves historical values as it was built by remodeling the court and prosecutor’s office building as part of an urban renovation project. On various subjects including marriage, childbirth, education, housing, and jobs, the exhibition was designed to provide opportunities to take you back to the old days with a collection of exhibits and interviews that give you a glimpse of our lives back in those days. We hope this will help people from different generations share their ideas and experience.

Small things in life and old memories are precious to us. We appreciate the passion that we didn’t know we had within us. At Seoul Urban Life Museum, we tell stories about the everyday lives of everyday people.

Urban Life Exhibition Hall 1F

1
Seoul, Where I live

It shows the photos and video footages of Seoul from the 1950s, when reconstruction began among the ruins of the Korean War, to the 1960-80s when rapid changes took place.

  • Urban Life Exhibition Hall 1F - Seoul, Where I live image1

Urban Life Exhibition Hall 2F

1
Development of Seoul Citizen

It gives you a glimpse of the lives of people who were born in Seoul or came to the city after the Korean War providing information about the population and their identities. You can also learn their stories and how they came to Seoul, and understand how Seoul became a metropolitan city with the expansion of the boundaries and population growth.

  • Urban Life Exhibition Hall 2F - Development of Seoul Citizen image1
  • Urban Life Exhibition Hall 2F - Development of Seoul Citizen image2
2
Birth of Seoul Family

It shows how people met, married and had children, and became a part of Seoul. You can learn about marriage customs and stories from different generations, and understand what starting a family really means to people who live in Seoul.

  • Urban Life Exhibition Hall 2F - Birth of Seoul Family image1
3
Seoul Natives, Born and Raised

It shows how people met, married and had children, and became a part of Seoul. You can learn about marriage customs and stories from different generations, and understand what starting a family really means to people who live in Seoul.

  • Urban Life Exhibition Hall 2F - Seoul Natives, Born and Raised image1

Urban Life Exhibition Hall 3F

1
The Dream of my house

From the recreated kitchen and living room, you can see how housing and interior space changed over the years. It also shows the microscopic stories about Seoul citizens’ lives through various artifacts that changed their residential culture.

  • Urban Life Exhibition Hall 3F - The Dream of my house image1
  • Urban Life Exhibition Hall 3F - The Dream of my house image2
2
Learning and Competing

It shows how education changed after National Liberation focusing on the expansion of elementary education and the fierce competition in the admission system of middle and high schools. It also presents stories of various school events and memories from school days.

  • Urban Life Exhibition Hall 3F - Learning and Competing image1
3
Working for the Family

Various artifacts and interview footage of hard-working parents and their jobs are on display. Lastly, you can learn about their workplaces and how jobs have changed over the years.

  • Urban Life Exhibition Hall 3F - Working for the Family image1

Special Exhibition Hall (Urban Life Exhibition Hall 4F)

1
 

Special exhibitions on various aspects of people’s lives are held here.

  • Special Exhibition Hall (Urban Life Exhibition Hall 4F) image1
  • Special Exhibition Hall (Urban Life Exhibition Hall 4F) image2

Children’s Zone(1, 2F)

1
 

Kids can listen to a story about ants, and engage in activities using the five senses while experiencing the changes in the way we approach our daily lives. They can also learn about old local stories and get hands-on experience of various jobs.

  • Children’s Zone(1, 2F) image1
  • Children’s Zone(1, 2F) image2

Detention Area Exhibition Room

1
Annex Building 1F

A detention area is a place designed to hold unconvicted prisoners in custody before their trials at the Northern District Prosecutors' Office from 1974 to 2010. The facility and its historical representation have been recreated to provide experience for visitors. When you leave the visiting area, you are directed to old alleys and get to experience the modern life of Seoul.

  • Detention Area Exhibition Room - Annex Building 1F image1
  • Detention Area Exhibition Room - Annex Building 1F image2
2
The Story of the Detention Area

A Detention Area is a place designed to hold unconvicted prisoners in custody before investigation or trial. Based on the information provided by the correctional center, the detention facility has been created with various articles and footage of prisoners expressing remorse for their crimes.

  • Detention Area Exhibition Room - The Story of the Detention Area image1
  • Detention Area Exhibition Room - The Story of the Detention Area image2

Exhibition Guide

Exhibition Guide(Classification, Opening Hours(March - October, November – February))
Classification Opening Hours
March - October November – February
Weekdays 09:00-18:00 09:00-18:00
Weekends & Holidays 09:00-18:00 09:00-18:00
Closed Day Monday of each week(except holiday), 1st January

Admission Fee

Free

Address

27, 174gil, Dongil-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01849

Contact

Tel.+82-2-3399-2900

Website

https://museum.seoul.go.kr/sulm/index.do

Transportation

Directions to the Seoul Urban Life Museum Map - Accessible via Taereung Station (lines 6 & 7) and nearby bus stops; refer to the main text for details.

Subway

  • Line6Taereung Station Exit #5
  • Line7 Taereung Station Exit #6

Bus

  • Taereung Station Exit #4 (11103) Stop 105, 146, 1221, 3100, 3500, 3600, 6100
  • Taereung Station Exit #7 (11-117) Stop 1132, 1141, 1155, 1156, 1221, 65-1, 73, 75, 82A, 82B

Parking

  • It is recommended to use public transportation due to limited parking space.