The Bank of Korea Money Museum occupies the central bank’s original headquarters at 39 Namdaemun-ro in Jung District, a granite Renaissance-style building completed in 1912 and designated a National Historic Site. Admission is free, and visitors come for its currency collections, its account of Korea’s financial history, and the chance to walk through one of downtown Seoul’s best-preserved early-20th-century buildings.
Inside, you’ll find a domed central hall, stone columns and restored vault spaces from the building’s banking days. The exhibits trace Korean money from early coins to modern banknotes and explain how currency is designed, printed and protected against counterfeiting. A gallery holds roughly 20,000 domestic and foreign notes and coins (Visit Seoul). Hands-on displays, such as one that lets you check your own weight in banknotes, keep children engaged.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The museum is generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 and closes on Mondays. Check the official site for holiday closures. Free 30-minute docent tours run several times daily, starting at 11:00 and 14:00. Each tour is capped at 30 people, so book online in advance (Bank of Korea). October’s money-culture lecture originally scheduled for the 15th has been rescheduled (BOK Museum). Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit. Allow one to two hours. Take Line 4 to Hoehyeon Station, then pair your visit with nearby Namdaemun Market and Sungnyemun Gate.
