How to See Artworks, Books, and the Jirisan Ridge Together at Namwon Municipal Kim Byung-jong Art Museum
Namwon Municipal Kim Byung-jong Art Museum is a free public art museum featuring the works and donated materials of Kim Byung-jong, an artist from Namwon. It is accessible by bus from Namwon Station and Namwon Express Bus Terminal, and is equipped with barrier-free facilities for wheelchair and stroller users.
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An Art Museum Opened on March 2, 2018, Through Kim Byung-jong’s Donation
The Namwon Municipal Kim Byung-jong Art Museum was established when artist Kim Byung-jong, a native of Namwon, donated 400 artworks, approximately 5,000 books, manuscripts for “Traveling with a Sketchbook,” and other exhibition materials to Namwon City free of charge. The museum opened on March 2, 2018, and is a public art museum directly operated by Namwon City.
The building is located within Hampau Art Valley, a cultural project of Namwon City. A total of 3.8 billion won, including national and municipal funds, was invested, and the total floor area is 1,442㎡. Located on Hampaugil behind Chunhyang Theme Park, it can be added to an itinerary as a Namwon cultural space in a different direction from the area around Gwanghalluwon Garden.
What to See First Within 1,442㎡: Three Galleries and a Sunken Garden
The museum contains three galleries, a storage area, and a sunken garden. It houses approximately 400 works by Kim Byung-jong, several dozen of which are presented in the permanent exhibition. Because the current exhibition layout may change, it is safer to view the permanent and special exhibitions as a whole rather than visiting only to see specific works.
When the museum opened, Gallery 1 presented “Reminiscence,” looking back on the artist’s 40-year painting career, while Gallery 2 presented “Returning Home,” exploring the relationship between pine trees and Namwon. Gallery 2 was designed to overlook the ridges of Jirisan Mountain through the window, and Gallery 3 used the contrast between light and darkness as its concept. This description is based on the exhibitions at the time of the 2018 opening, so current exhibition titles and artwork arrangements may differ.
A 40-Minute Viewing Route for Understanding “Foolish Jesus” and “Song of Life”
Artist Kim Byung-jong worked primarily on the themes of “Foolish Jesus,” “Song of Life,” and “Traveling with a Sketchbook,” projecting his childhood memories from Namwon into his works. Therefore, rather than quickly scanning only the artwork titles, it is better to consider how the regional memories of Namwon connect with the artist’s literary records while viewing the exhibition.
One review says that visiting the museum itself took about 40 minutes. However, the visit may take longer if you read the special exhibition materials slowly or use the book café. The opening special exhibition consisted of three parts and displayed 41 works in total, including “The Forest Never Sleeps,” which measured 10 meters in length, but these were the exhibition contents from 2018.
Continue Your Route Through Books at the “Traveling with a Sketchbook” Book Café by the Entrance
There is a “Traveling with a Sketchbook” book café at the museum entrance, stocked with books related to art, literature, and the humanities. According to the 2018 introduction, it held approximately 3,000 books. Literary materials donated by artist Kim Byung-jong are also displayed, allowing visitors to explore art and literature in one place.
Visitors must not touch the artworks inside the exhibition halls. Guidance for visitors states that mobile phones should be switched to vibrate and calls should be taken outside the exhibition halls. Food and beverages may not be brought inside, and entry with pets is not permitted. Backpacks, umbrellas, hiking poles, selfie sticks, tripods, and toys must be left at the information desk or in a storage locker before viewing the exhibitions.
From 10:00 to 18:00: Closing Days to Know Before Free Admission
Visiting hours are 10:00–18:00, and admission is free. According to guidance dated January 29, 2024, the museum is closed every Monday, January 1, Seollal, and Chuseok. The admission closing time and substitute closing day when Monday is a public holiday were not included in the available guidance.
The inquiry telephone number is 063-620-5660. The official URL, https://nkam.modoo.at/, is displayed as a page announcing the end of Naver’s modoo! service, so it is difficult to regard it as a homepage providing information on currently operating exhibitions. Use this number to confirm exhibition changes or closure status by phone on the day of your visit.
Traveling from Namwon Station to Sapdarisa by Bus 5-133
For foreign travelers arriving by train, a route using the KTX from Yongsan Station to Namwon Station has been suggested. According to information from 2019, the KTX operated 10–12 times a day from 05:10 to 21:50, with a travel time of approximately two hours. After arriving at Namwon Station, visitors should take Bus 5-133, get off at Sapdarisa Bus Stop, and walk approximately 20 minutes to the museum.
If you take an express bus, buses from Seoul Central City Terminal to Namwon operated 15–17 times a day from 06:00 to 22:20 in 2019 and took approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes. A route from Namwon Express Bus Terminal involved taking Bus 2-291, getting off at Sapdarisa Bus Stop, and walking approximately 20 minutes. Because these bus routes and service frequencies are based on old information, check the latest timetable separately on the actual travel date.
Using the First- and Second-Floor Galleries by Wheelchair or Stroller from Hampaugil
The museum address is 65-14 Hampaugil, Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State. Parking is free, and designated parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are available. Hampau Village is located in front of the museum, with the Nogodan ridge of Jirisan Mountain extending behind the village and the natural scenery of Deogeumsan Mountain nearby.
Tactile paving, step-free paths, and an accessible elevator are installed, allowing wheelchair and stroller users to access the first- and second-floor galleries. The accessible restroom has safety bars and a bidet, and the entrance to Gallery 1 is described as step-free. A Braille guide map is located in front of the second-floor parking area.
From 400 Weekend Visitors in 2019 to Selection as One of Korea’s 100 Must-Visit Tourist Attractions
A 2019 article reported an average of more than 400 visitors on weekends, while cumulative visitors reached 75,144 by October of that year. The monthly average in 2019 was 4,583 visitors, and 7,203 visitors came during August 2019 alone. At the time, the museum’s popularity as a photo spot on social media was also mentioned as a factor behind the increase in visitors.
In 2021–2022, the museum was selected as one of the “100 Must-Visit Tourist Attractions of Korea,” organized by the Korea Tourism Organization. However, visitor guidance states that tripods and selfie sticks must be stored in the exhibition halls even when visiting for photography. If you plan to combine artwork viewing with photography, it is more practical to plan your route mainly around the exterior of the building and permitted areas.
Before You Go
- Address
- 65-14 Hampaugil, Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State
- Hours
- Daily, 10:00–18:00
- Closed
- Every Monday, January 1, Seollal, and Chuseok
- Admission
- Free
- Phone
- 063-620-5660
- Official site
- https://nkam.modoo.at/ (Naver modoo! service termination announcement page)
- Transport
- Take Bus 5-133 from Namwon Station, get off at Sapdarisa Bus Stop, then walk approximately 20 minutes to the museum. From Namwon Express Bus Terminal, take Bus 2-291, get off at Sapdarisa Bus Stop, then walk approximately 20 minutes to the museum.
- Parking
- Free; designated parking spaces for visitors with disabilities available
- Time needed
- Approximately 40 minutes, based on reviews
- Accessibility
- Tactile paving, step-free paths, an accessible elevator, and an accessible restroom are available; wheelchair and stroller users can access the first- and second-floor galleries
The information above is accurate as of the time of writing. Check the official guidance again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 3
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1
Chunhyang Theme ParkA themed cultural space recreating key scenes from The Tale of Chunhyang. -
2
Namwon Aerospace ObservatoryA science museum where visitors can explore aerospace exhibits and observe celestial objects. -
3
Gwanghalluwon GardenA traditional garden featuring Gwanghallu Pavilion, Ojakgyo Bridge, and a pond.
Food & Dining 2
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4
Chunwon HoegwanA noodle restaurant serving soybean noodle soup with soaked soybeans and buckwheat soba. -
5
Cheonghakdong HoegwanA restaurant serving Namwon-style Korean set meals in a hanok-style atmosphere.
Events in This Area
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Namwon Chunhyang Theme Park, where five scenes from The Tale of Chunhyang unfold across a 35,000-pyeong hillside
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Pansori in Namwon, the City of Chunhyang: National Center for Korean Folk Performing Arts
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Namwon Gwanghalluwon Garden, Where the Milky Way, Samsinsan and Ojakgyo Bridge Meet in One Garden
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