Meet “VALLEY” in Chodang-dong—The Light, Sound, and Scent Trail at ARTE MUSEUM Gangneung

The Third Arte Museum Opened in Chodang-dong in December 2021

Arte Museum Gangneung is the third permanent immersive media art exhibition hall introduced by d'strict, a digital design company, in Chodang-dong, Gangneung, in December 2021. Just one year after opening, it surpassed 1 million cumulative visitors on December 10, 2022, and the total floor area of its dedicated building was reported to be 4,975㎡.

Located at 131 Nanseolheon-ro, the museum borders the site of the Gangneung Green City Experience Center. To connect the museum's opening with the influx of tourists, Gangneung City remodeled 280㎡ on the first floor of the convention center at the same address and created Gangneung Slowcal Station, featuring 16 businesses and 87 types of processed food. Its distinctive feature is that it is not merely an exhibition hall but a location connected to Chodang-dong's local products and culinary route.

A Gangneung Exhibition That Translates the Baekdu Daegan and the East Sea as ‘VALLEY’

The theme of the Gangneung branch is ‘VALLEY,’ and its official introduction explains that it interprets the embrace of the Baekdu Daegan and Gangneung's geography and mood through a combination of light, sound, and scent. The exhibition's overarching theme is ‘ETERNAL NATURE,’ presenting nature as sensory scenes that combine video, sound, and fragrance rather than reproductions of actual landscapes.

The official artwork descriptions mention traces of time in Yeongseo, the dawn light illuminating the Taebaek Mountains, and the East Sea, where tranquility and strength coexist. Therefore, if your itinerary aims to see both Gangneung's mountains and sea in one day, placing the indoor exhibition before or after walking around Gyeongpo Lake and Gangmun Beach makes the contrast between the landscapes more pronounced.

Planning Your Visit Around 10:00–20:00 Hours and the 19:00 Last Admission

The current official operating hours are 10:00–20:00 every day, year-round. Since the last admission is at 19:00, one hour before closing, those planning to visit before dinner should ideally arrive by around 18:00 at the latest. The main contact number is 1899-5008, and the official website is https://kr.artemuseum.com/GANGNEUNG.

Adult admission (born 1963–2007) is 19,000 won, while a ticket including ARTE CAFE is 22,000 won. For teenagers (born 2008–2013), the prices are 15,000 won and 18,000 won, respectively; for children (born 2014–2019), they are 12,000 won and 15,000 won; and discounted tickets for children, seniors, people with disabilities, national merit honorees, and military personnel are 10,000 won and 13,000 won. Infants born in 2023 or later enter free of charge. It is advisable to confirm the age requirements and discount documentation conditions again on the official booking page before purchasing.

• Address: 131 Nanseolheon-ro, Gangneung, Gangwon State
• Hours: Monday–Sunday, 10:00–20:00, open year-round
• Last admission: 19:00
• Main contact: 1899-5008

Deciding on Wheelchair and Stroller Access Before the Mirror-Floored STAR and CAVE

According to the Korea Tourism Organization's accessible tourism information, Arte Museum Gangneung has a free parking lot and accessible parking spaces, indoor restrooms and a dedicated accessible restroom, and a nursing room. The official page does not confirm whether foreign-language assistance is routinely available, so it is more accurate to inquire at 1899-5008 before visiting about support in the language you need.

Most of the exhibition spaces have no level changes and have wide passageways, so strollers and wheelchairs can be used, according to the available information. However, some spaces, including STAR and CAVE, have mirror floors and are exceptions. Visitors who are uncomfortable with reflective surfaces and dim lighting, as well as those using mobility aids, should move slowly with a companion and prioritize watching their footing over taking photos in these sections.

About 20 Minutes by Bus from Gangneung Station, Combined with a Route of Around 1 km in Chodang-dong

On the Gangmun Beach bus route introduced by Gangneung City, it takes approximately 20 minutes by city bus from Gangneung Station to Arte Museum Gangneung. If you have a lot of luggage or are traveling with infants or elderly people, taking a taxi from Gangneung Station is also a practical option; individual reviews mention a journey of about 15 minutes. Since travel time can vary depending on road conditions, it is better to avoid making tightly timed reservations immediately after arriving by KTX.

For nearby attractions, the distance from Heo Gyun·Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Park to Arte Museum is listed as 1 km, or approximately 6 minutes by car. Arte Museum and Gyeongpo Aquarium are 0.4 km apart, or about 3 minutes by car, while Donghwa Garden's main branch is 1.6 km away, or about 7 minutes by car. Tourism information notes that Heo Gyun·Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Park, Arte Museum, and Gyeongpo Aquarium are near the Moonlight Walking Trail, making travel on foot possible as well.

• Gangneung Station → Arte Museum: approximately 20 minutes by city bus
• Heo Gyun·Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Park → Arte Museum: 1 km, approximately 6 minutes by car
• Arte Museum → Gyeongpo Aquarium: 0.4 km, approximately 3 minutes by car
• Arte Museum → Donghwa Garden main branch: 1.6 km, approximately 7 minutes by car

On Rainy Days and Weekends, Consider Parking and the Dark Exhibition Environment First

Parking at the exhibition hall is free, and accessible parking spaces are available. However, recent visitor reviews have mentioned queues in the parking lanes near the entrance during rainy weather and congestion at the photo zones on weekends. These are individual experiences rather than official operating information and may not apply every day, but on rainy weekends it may be worth arriving around opening time or considering public transportation or a taxi.

Allowing approximately 1.5–2 hours makes it easy to adjust time for the exhibition, photography, and whether to include the cafe. Conversely, long stays may be tiring for people who are sensitive to rapidly changing lights in dark spaces, loud volume, or mirror reflections. In that case, enter well before the 19:00 last admission, include breaks during the visit, and divide the route afterward with a meal of Chodang sundubu or a walk around Gyeongpo Lake to make the itinerary less strenuous.

Distinguishing the 2026 ‘Moon Rabbit’ Special Exhibition from the Permanent Exhibition

The official page announces the ‘Moon Rabbit’ special exhibition, running in Jeju, Yeosu, Gangneung, and Busan from February 13, 2026, and indicates that it will continue in Gangneung through September. Since the special exhibition's content and operation may differ from those of the permanent exhibition, visitors coming before September 2026 should check the booking page to confirm whether it applies and review the ticket conditions.

The character ‘dara’ introduced in the official description is a moon rabbit named after the call ‘Moon, moon, bright moon.’ Even if you are visiting mainly for the permanent VALLEY and ETERNAL NATURE exhibitions, the viewing order and time spent may vary on days when a temporary exhibition is being held. It is best to check the on-site information first upon arrival and leave about 30 minutes of flexibility in your meal and beach plans.