Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul at 63 Square: a museum where the aquarium used to be

The aquarium that ran inside Seoul's 63 Building for nearly 39 years closed for good in June 2024, and that space has now been rebuilt into a brand-new museum: Centre Pompidou Hanwha, opening June 4, 2026, inside 63 Square on Yeouido. It's a permanent branch set up through a partnership between the Paris-based Centre Pompidou and Hanwha, giving Seoul a dedicated venue for international modern and contemporary art from the Pompidou's own collection.

The opening exhibition, "Cubists: Visionaries of Sight," runs from June 4 to October 4, bringing together works by around 43 international artists from the Pompidou's collection, including Picasso and Braque, alongside pieces by 11 Korean artists, spread across Galleries 1 and 2. The museum occupies the section of 63 Square that used to house the old aquarium, so you'll recognize the same landmark building from across the Yeouido riverbank.

Korean travel and arts outlets picked up the opening with plenty of interest, with several noting that ticket sales opened ahead of the June 4 launch and recommending booking a timed slot online in advance. On forums, some travelers say they're curious just to see how the building reads now that it has gone from aquarium to museum. Because it's a brand-new 2026 venue, on-the-ground visitor reviews are still thin, so check the official site for the current month's schedule and visitor rules.

Practical info: 50 63-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu (여의도동), Seoul. As of a September 2026 check, daytime hours run 10:00–18:00. Tickets are sold in timed slots online; adult tickets are 28,000 won, teens/seniors 19,600 won, children 16,800 won, Arts Pass holders 19,600 won, and infants, people with disabilities and national merit recipients enter free. A walk-in box office is also open once the museum has launched.

Nearby: Yeouido Hangang Park is within walking distance, and both IFC Mall and The Hyundai Seoul department store are close by — each already has its own separate guide, so this pairs easily into a full Yeouido day.

Would you go specifically for the Cubist opening show, or are you more curious to see the building now that it's a museum instead of an aquarium?

Sources: Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul — Tickets · Asia Economy — Pompidou Hanwha opening June 4 · The Trip Pick — Pompidou Hanwha opening exhibition · Digital Today — Pompidou Hanwha ticket sales Checked: September 2026

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Photos: Sebastian Hoering, CC BY-SA 4.0