The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) opened in 1988 and has earned a reputation as one of Korea’s leading art venues with a series of world-famous exhibitions. Situated in the center of Seoul, its convenient location and outstanding collections attract large numbers of locals and tourists. The specially-designed building features large windows that fill the interior with natural light. This attracts not only tourists but also artists and even movie directors, some of whom have used the location for filming.
Since it was established in 1988, the main museum building has been relocated to Seosomun-dong in Seoul. The museum has a variety of annexes such as SeMA Gyeonghuigung, located on the historic site of Gyeonghuigung Palace, and the Nam Seoul Annex Building which is situated in a building that was once the Belgian Embassy. The museum also runs the Naji Art Studio which offers workshops and financial support to new generations of Korean artists to nurture their creativity.
The beautiful Renaissance façade which forms the entrance to the museum was originally part of the Supreme Court, built in 1928. Today it is better known as the iconic image of the Seoul Museum of Art. In March 2006, the arch and the beautifully constructed museum building were designated as Cultural Property No. 237 in recognition of their great historical and architectural value.
