National Tax Museum, a Tax Museum on the 1st Floor of the National Tax Service at Government Complex Sejong 2

From the National Tax Service Annex in 2002 to Government Complex Sejong 2 in 2015

The National Tax Museum, opened on October 5, 2002, is Korea's only specialized tax museum and was established by the National Tax Service to inform young people, the taxpayers of the future, about the importance of taxes and deepen their understanding of national tax administration. It was registered as a Type 1 specialized museum on June 30, 2005, and reopened after remodeling on December 22, 2008.

When the National Tax Service relocated to Sejong Special Self-Governing City, the museum moved with it and reopened on December 4, 2015, on the first floor of the National Tax Service building at Government Complex Sejong 2. Before the relocation, the Cyber and Mobile Tax Museum opened in June 2013, laying the foundation for online visits.

Thanks to this history, the Tax Museum is considered one of the oldest national specialized museums that existed before the National Tax Service established itself in Sejong City.

A reproduction of the Stele of King Gwanggaeto guarding the entrance

Upon entering the museum, visitors are greeted by a life-size reproduction of the Stele of King Gwanggaeto. This is because the stele preserves the earliest surviving record related to taxation in Korea, allowing visitors to begin their tour with traces of taxation from the Three Kingdoms period as they pass by it.

The exhibited collection consists of approximately 8,800 tax-related items collected with the cooperation of current and former National Tax Service employees nationwide. These materials are arranged throughout the permanent exhibition hall, organizing the contents and historical events of tax systems by period.

Educational and hands-on spaces related to taxes are also located near the entrance, making it easy to add a brief activity before or after viewing the exhibits.

A permanent exhibition hall divided into six zones—from Gojoseon to the future of the National Tax Service

As of 2019, the National Tax Museum's interior consisted of six zones: Taxes Yesterday and Today, the National Tax Service Yesterday and Today, the Future of the National Tax Service, a Tax Experience Corner, a Special Exhibition Hall, and an Education and Orientation Room.

The exhibits cover materials on tax systems from Gojoseon, the Three Kingdoms, the North–South States period, Goryeo, Joseon, and modern times, along with themes such as the National Tax Service Yesterday and Today, the National Tax Service in the World, Memories of 50 Years of the National Tax Service, and a commemorative photography exhibition marking 50 years of the National Tax Service. Visitors can follow the development of tax systems in chronological order.

Special exhibitions are held separately from time to time, so it is advisable to check the current special exhibition on the website before visiting.

9:00–18:00, Tuesday through Sunday; closed Mondays

The National Tax Museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with admission available only until one hour before closing. It is closed every Monday and on legal holidays other than Sundays.

Admission to all exhibition halls is free. For detailed visitor information, contact the website (nts.go.kr/museum) or the main telephone number, 044-204-4646~8.

As the facility is located inside a government complex building, it is safest to check the website notices once more before visiting to make sure that public holidays do not coincide with the building's closure schedule.

8-14 Guksecheong-ro, Naseong-dong—how to reach the first floor of Government Complex Sejong 2

The museum's address is 8-14 Guksecheong-ro, Naseong-dong, Sejong Special Self-Governing City, postal code 30128, and it is located on the first floor of the National Tax Service building at Government Complex Sejong 2.

By public transportation, take regular bus numbers 560, 602, 620, or 655 and get off at the First Maeul 1 Complex bus stop. You can also take bus 1001 from the BRT stop at Exit 4 of Daejeon Station, or take BRT bus 990 or 1000 from Banseok Station and get off at the Naseong-dong stop.

There is no dedicated parking lot for the museum, so outside visitors must use the temporary parking lot in front of the building. The route to the entrance has no level differences, making it accessible by wheelchair.

Tax Experience Corner and guided-tour schedule

The Tax Experience Corner offers activities that help visitors discover which taxes they pay during a day, as well as a section where they can test their tax knowledge through games.

Guided tours are offered Tuesday through Friday at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 and 4:00 p.m., and on weekends at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Groups of 10 or more and those wishing to participate in an educational program must consult by phone and make a reservation through the website.

Families may find it helpful to arrive in time for the start of a guided tour to better understand the exhibitions.

From the Cyber Tax Museum in 2013 to the metaverse

The National Tax Museum opened the Cyber and Mobile Tax Museum in June 2013, establishing a system that also allowed visitors to view exhibitions online.

Later, the National Tax Museum in the metaverse also opened, making it possible to access exhibition content anytime and anywhere without visiting the physical site.

Naseong-dong, once the village of Naritjae, becomes home to Sejong City's first national museum

Naseong-dong, where the museum is located, was originally known as Naritjae Village, a place name meaning a fortress by a stream. When Sejong Special Self-Governing City was launched in 2012, part of Naseong-ri, Nam-myeon, former Yeongi County, was incorporated into Naseong-dong.

Today, Naseong-dong is home to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Fire Agency, along with the National Tax Service, at Government Complex Sejong 2. The National Tax Museum is considered the first national museum established in Sejong City.

Who is it suited to?—The advantages and disadvantages of taxes as a theme

It is a good option for families looking for a free educational facility that can be explored briefly indoors, as well as visitors who need to spend time near Government Complex Sejong. The Tax Experience Corner and guided-tour programs are especially suited to families with elementary, middle, or high school students.

However, because the subject of taxes is presented mainly through documents and reference materials rather than spectacular attractions, visitors expecting stimulating hands-on exhibits or large artifacts may find it somewhat underwhelming. Since it is located inside a government complex building, it is better suited as part of an itinerary combined with a visit to the nearby National Tax Service or a schedule around Naseong-dong than as a standalone tourist attraction.