Meeting Ulsanbawi Rock on a Canvas of Water at Bauzium Sculpture Museum

A private sculpture museum at 37 Wonam Oncheon 3-gil

Bauzium Sculpture Museum is a private art museum founded by sculptor Kim Myeong-suk. It operates with the goals of advancing contemporary sculpture, developing local arts and culture, and educating local students. Rather than offering only indoor exhibitions like many museums, it is a space where visitors can view outdoor gardens and sculptures together across a 7,000-pyeong site.

The museum is located at 37 Wonam Oncheon 3-gil, Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon State, and its lot-number address is 288 Wonam-ri, Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun. It is described as having been established in 2015 by dentist Dr. An Jeong-mo and his wife, sculptor and museum director Kim Myeong-suk. The total site is listed as 9,900㎡.

Three exhibition halls connecting Hall A, Hall B, and Art Space

There are three exhibition spaces in total. Hall A is the Modern and Contemporary Sculpture Hall, Hall B is the Kim Myeong-suk Sculpture Hall, and the third is Art Space, a venue for special exhibitions. Hall A focuses on modern and contemporary Korean sculpture, while Hall B primarily presents works by museum director and sculptor Kim Myeong-suk.

Kim Myeong-suk mainly works with stone and bronze. The official introduction describes her artistic style as characterized by a tactile sensibility that realizes the touch of the hand and the materiality of the medium. Art Space presents a new special exhibition every three months and also hosts invitational exhibitions, so its content varies depending on when you visit.

A route for viewing Ulsanbawi Rock from the 20-meter Water Garden

Outdoors, five themed gardens have been created: the Water Garden, Stone Garden, Lawn Garden, Terracotta Garden, and Forest Garden. In particular, the 20-meter-wide by 20-meter-long water feature serves as a natural canvas reflecting the scenery of Ulsanbawi Rock in Seoraksan.

The officially recommended route begins at the entrance and continues through Hall A, the Modern and Contemporary Sculpture Hall, the Stone Garden, and Hall B, the Kim Myeong-suk Sculpture Hall, followed by the Lawn Garden, Pine Tree Garden, Water Garden, Terracotta Garden, Art Space, Art Shop, and Cafe Bau. The exhibition spaces and gardens are interconnected, so the route continues regardless of where you begin.

Open from 10:00 to 18:00, with last admission at 17:00

Visiting hours are 10:00–18:00, with last admission at 17:00. The regular closing day is every Monday, so visitors whose itinerary includes Monday should change their visit date. The official website is https://www.bauzium.co.kr/, and the main telephone number is 033-632-6632.

General admission is 13,000 won, and ticket holders receive one Americano. Elementary, middle, and high school students pay 7,000 won, while children aged 36 months and older pay 5,000 won. Groups of 20 or more pay 9,000 won, or 10,000 won including coffee. Group rates require advance reservations by calling 033-632-6632.

10–15 minutes by taxi from Sokcho’s two bus terminals

For travelers visiting Korea for the first time, the simplest option is to take a bus from Seoul’s Dong Seoul Bus Terminal toward Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal. Buses from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal are listed as running at 30-minute intervals. If departing from southern Seoul, you can take a bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Banpo toward Sokcho Express Bus Terminal; this route is also listed as running every 30 minutes.

After getting off at either Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal or Sokcho Express Bus Terminal, visitors are advised to take a taxi to the museum, which takes approximately 10–15 minutes. The official information does not provide the exact bus route number or stop name for the museum, so taking a taxi from the terminal reduces the need for transfers.

For drivers, the recommended route from Seoul follows the Yangyang Expressway through Gapyeong, Hongcheon, Naerincheon, and Sokcho Interchange, then enters in the direction of Hyundai I’Park Condo and Seongcheon. Museum parking is free.

What to know before visiting with a 13,000-won ticket

Goseong residents, seniors aged 65 and over, and visitors with disabilities are eligible for a 1,000-won discount. The museum is listed as an institution eligible for the cultural expense income deduction, so visitors using this program can check whether it applies when paying admission. The fact that one Americano is included with a regular ticket is also worth considering when calculating the admission cost.

Visitors must not touch the exhibited works. Moving stones within the museum or throwing stones into the water features is also prohibited. Smoking and bringing food or drinks into the exhibition halls are not permitted. Pets may accompany visitors in both indoor and outdoor exhibition areas only when carried, and preschool children must be supervised by their guardians.

The official information does not confirm whether photography is prohibited, whether payment is cash-only, or whether English information and an audio guide are available. It is therefore safest to plan an itinerary that avoids touching the works and handles food outside the exhibition halls.

What wheelchair and stroller users should check first

Accessibility information from the Korea Tourism Organization indicates that there are no accessible restrooms or elevators for visitors with disabilities. The main entrance has a step, and no designated accessible parking spaces are listed.

Wheelchair and stroller rentals are also listed as unavailable. Visitors who need a wheelchair or stroller may find it difficult to move through all the indoor and outdoor exhibitions and gardens in the same way, so it is practical to call 033-632-6632 in advance to ask about assistance from companions and the on-site route.

Based on visitor reviews, the recommended viewing time is approximately 1–2 hours. If you plan to see all three exhibition halls and five gardens, arriving in the morning or early afternoon is more suitable than arriving just before the 17:00 last admission.

An itinerary continuing from Bauzium to Cafe Bau

At the end of the official recommended route are the Terracotta Garden, Art Space, Art Shop, and Cafe Bau. Rather than looking for the cafe immediately after entering, visitors can view Halls A and B, pass through the gardens, and then proceed to Art Space and the Art Shop for an experience closer to the museum’s suggested flow.

A travel vlog posted on August 14, 2022, also included Bauzium Sculpture Museum as a day-trip destination in Goseong. However, the available information does not confirm seasonal operating hours, the exact number of available parking spaces, or whether English information and an audio guide are offered. If any of these three points are essential to your trip, contact the main number, 033-632-6632, before departure.