Jeonju

Jeonju Gyodong Art Museum, Where Factory Sewing Machines Meet Contemporary Art

Located on Gyeonggijeon-gil in Jeonju Hanok Village, Gyodong Art Museum is an exhibition space converted from part of a former underwear factory, with some of the original structure preserved. Admission is free. Visitors can also explore its history, from its opening as Gyodong Art Center in 2007 to its renaming in 2018, along with traces of the former factory site.

By the KOTourLive Editorial Team Updated: Sep 2, 2026 17 min 190

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How to Get from Jeondong Cathedral to 89 Gyeonggijeon-gil

The main building of Gyodong Art Museum is located at 89 Gyeonggijeon-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State, with the postal code 55042. It is inside Jeonju Hanok Village and is described as about a four-minute walk from Jeondong Cathedral, so the simplest option for first-time visitors to Jeonju is to search for Jeondong Cathedral on a map and then head toward Gyeonggijeon-gil.

The official information lists the main building's telephone number as 063-287-1245. Bus route numbers, stop names, and walking times from station exits have not been confirmed in the publicly available information, so it is safer not to plan your journey around a specific bus. Nearby public parking lots are reportedly available, but parking fees and the number of spaces have not been confirmed.

전주 한옥마을 안 교동미술관을 소개하는 여행 사진입니다. — A travel photo introducing Gyodong Art Museum inside Jeonju Hanok Village. — Photo source: triple.guide

A Free Exhibition Space Open from 10:00

Opening hours are listed as 10:00–19:00 in summer and 10:00–18:00 in winter. Other public information states that it operates from Tuesday through Sunday and is closed on Mondays, so the information about closing days differs. When planning your visit, prioritize the seasonal guidance and check the exhibitions scheduled for that day by calling 063-287-1245 or consulting the official website.

Admission is listed as free. Exhibition schedules may vary, and visitors are advised to check the website, so you should not expect a particular exhibition to be open when you arrive at the museum. Public sources do not confirm whether photography is prohibited, whether payment is cash-only, whether English information or an audio guide is available, or when admission closes.

교동미술관의 실내 전시 공간을 보여 주는 사진입니다. — A photo showing the indoor exhibition space at Gyodong Art Museum. — Photo source: tripcdn.com

Why a 1950s Underwear Factory Became an Art Museum

From the 1950s through the 1980s, the site of Gyodong Art Museum was an underwear factory measuring approximately 2,500 pyeong. About 500 workers were employed there. The transformation of this former industrial site into a space for exhibitions and cultural events is the distinctive background of the museum today.

Gyodong Art Museum opened in 2007 after preserving part of the old sewing factory in its original form and renovating the interior into exhibition galleries. Several sewing machines used at the time are also on display, making this more than a museum where visitors simply view artworks: it is also a place to read the traces of the sewing industry in Jeonju's old downtown area. The red-brick chimney from the former factory was demolished around 2009.

From Gyodong Art Center in 2007 to Gyodong Art Museum in 2018

The museum opened in April 2007 under the motto “Communication,” and its predecessor was Gyodong Art Center, which opened that year. In 2008, it held the first-anniversary special exhibition “People of Gyodong, Stories of Gyodong,” and in 2009 it took its first step toward international exchange exhibitions with an invited exchange exhibition from Kanazawa.

In 2010, it launched its first Artist in Residence program, and in 2011 it began promoting the exhibition “Young Art: Pay Attention to This Artist.” In 2018, when the name was changed to Gyodong Art Museum, a new creative studio was opened and the second-floor exhibition hall in the main building was remodeled. The museum's identity as a space focused on communication between artists and the public is reflected in both the name and the changes to its facilities.

The Main Building, Building 2, and Creative Studio Have Different Addresses

The official website lists Gyodong Art Museum Building 2 and the Creative Studio as separate facilities in addition to the main building. Building 2 is at 25 Choe Myeong-hui-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, while the Creative Studio is at 26-44 Taejo-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si. Visitors looking for the main building at 89 Gyeonggijeon-gil should compare the addresses beforehand to avoid confusing the exhibition locations.

Gyodong Art Studio was established on the site of a former knitting factory three years after the museum opened. Choe Myeong-hui Literature Museum and the Fan Culture Center, which are adjacent to the museum and studio, stood on the site of a former dyeing factory. This area therefore allows visitors to trace not only the traditional scenery of Hanok Village but also the transformation of sites associated with the sewing, knitting, and dyeing industries.

A Six-Session Walking Program Extending to Gyeonggijeon and Omokdae

A walking course operated by Jeonju City in May 2025 ran from Gyodong Art Museum to Gyeonggijeon, Omokdae, and the Jeonju Traditional Liquor Museum. It was conducted on foot over six sessions, with participation limited to the first 30 registrants. Rather than viewing the museum alone, the program connected the royal heritage of Hanok Village, hilltop views, and traditional liquor culture in one itinerary.

On May 9, 2025, there were two sessions, from 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00. On May 15, 16, and 23, sessions ran from 13:00–16:00, and on May 24, the program ran from 10:00–13:00. The operating period was May 9–24, 2025. The participation fee was a KRW 5,000 reservation deposit to prevent no-shows, and a gifticon of the same value was scheduled to be provided. As this was an event held during a specific period, it should not be regarded as a regular tour.

교동미술관에서 경기전과 오목대로 걷는 전주 프로그램 안내 이미지입니다. — An information image for a Jeonju program walking from Gyodong Art Museum to Gyeonggijeon and Omokdae. — Photo source: jeonju.go.kr

What to Confirm Before Visiting for Free

The recommended visiting time cannot be determined from the currently available public information alone. The actual access route for wheelchairs and strollers, slopes and stairs, and the availability of an elevator have not been confirmed. No separate travel distance from the ticket counter to the exhibition halls has been provided either. Travelers who need accessibility information should contact 063-287-1245 before setting out.

The official website is http://www.gdart.co.kr/main/inner.php?sMenu=main. The website lists the 2026 Jeonju–Cheongju Exchange Exhibition “Memory and Production: Things Blooming from Vanished Places,” scheduled for 2026-07-06–2026-08-02. However, the exhibitions and opening hours may vary by date and exhibition, so rather than checking only that admission is free, you should also confirm the exhibition name for your intended date.

교동미술관 방문 전 홈페이지와 전시 일정을 확인하는 데 참고할 사진입니다. — A reference photo for checking the website and exhibition schedule before visiting Gyodong Art Museum. — Photo source: tripcdn.com

What Kind of Traveler Will Enjoy Gyodong Art Museum?

It is better suited to people who want to explore both the exhibitions and the industrial history of the building than to travelers who want to quickly see only the highlights of a large art museum. Admission is free, and it is about a four-minute walk from Jeondong Cathedral, making it easy to include between Hanok Village activities. However, the inconsistent information about exhibition schedules and opening hours should be considered when planning your visit.

Gyodong Art Museum has been introduced as a space created with private funds by an individual seeking to realize social value. It received Social Enterprise Certification from the Ministry of Employment and Labor in November 2012, Type 2 Art Museum Certification in January 2013, and Type 1 Art Museum Certification in February 2017. In 2024, it was selected for the Visual Arts Creative Studio Support Project and received the ICOM Korea Committee Chairperson's Award for Excellence. In 2025, it was selected for the Museum and Art Museum Week Support Project. Travelers interested in seeing the meeting between local creators and visitors can read this evolution alongside the exhibitions.

Before You Go

Address: 89 Gyeonggijeon-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State (Pungnam-dong 3-ga 67-9), postal code 55042
Hours: Summer 10:00–19:00, winter 10:00–18:00 / Open Tuesday–Sunday (closed Mondays)
Closed: Public holidays
Admission: Free
Phone: 063-287-1245
Official site: http://www.gdart.co.kr/main/inner.php?sMenu=main
Transport: Located in Jeonju Hanok Village. Listed as a four-minute walk from Jeondong Cathedral.
Parking: Nearby public parking lots are reportedly available. Parking fees and the number of spaces have not been confirmed.

The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.

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