National Museum of Korea's own gift shop: what Muds is and where to find it

The National Museum of Korea is the country's largest museum, with free permanent-collection admission and Yongsan Family Park right next door, so many visitors pair it with the nearby Amorepacific Museum of Art in one day. Beyond the artifacts, the museum's own retail brand, Muds (뮷즈), has become a reason in itself to browse — everyday goods redesigned around motifs from the museum's own treasures, rather than the usual keychains and postcards.

There are three shopping points: Shop 1 in the West Building, first floor, next to Eutteum Hall; Shop 2 in the center of the permanent exhibition building's first floor; and the Muds brand experience center on the third floor of the permanent exhibition building, which leans into everyday products reworked from national-treasure patterns. The museum also has a 255-meter indoor "Museum Promenade" with moving walkways (open 07:00–23:00), and an 805-seat theater called "Yong" that hosts classical music, dance and musicals.

Visitors on forums and social media often say the permanent collection is big enough that a single day isn't quite enough, so it helps to pick a few galleries in advance. Muds items get praised for design and gift-ability, though some of the pricier collaboration pieces aren't cheap. Special exhibitions rotate, so check the museum's own site for the current month's lineup.

Practical info: nearest station is Ichon (Line 4), exit 2, connected by an underground passage. Shop 1 hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun 9:30–17:30, Wed/Sat until 21:00; Shop 2: daily 9:30–17:30; Muds center: daily 9:30–17:30 (closed 12:00–13:00). All three close on New Year's Day, Lunar New Year, Chuseok, and the first Monday of March, June, September and December. The permanent galleries themselves stay open later on Wednesdays and Saturdays — check the day's posted hours.

Nearby: the Amorepacific Museum of Art (APMA) is a 15–20 minute walk, and Yongsan Family Park sits right beside the museum, making it easy to combine into a half- or full-day Yongsan culture route.

Which permanent-collection gallery would you head for first, or would you go straight for the Muds shop?

Sources: National Museum of Korea — Facilities · National Museum Foundation — Museum shops · Namuwiki — National Museum of Korea · National Museum of Korea — Current exhibitions Checked: September 2026

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Photos: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jinah78, CC BY-SA 3.0