The Calligraphic Legacy of Iljung Kim Chung-hyun on Insadong 9-gil: Baegak Museum
Baegak Museum is an Insadong exhibition venue dedicated to calligraphy and literati painting, founded in 1983 by calligrapher Iljung Kim Chung-hyun for the education of future generations. Centered around its first- and second-floor galleries and the Iljung Calligraphy Memorial Hall, it presents weekly exhibitions that begin on Thursday and end the following Wednesday.
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Calligraphy and Literati Painting Exhibition Hall Established by Iljung Kim Chung-hyun in Insadong in 1983
Baegak Art Museum is a specialized exhibition hall for calligraphy and literati painting, established in 1983 by the calligrapher Iljung (一中) Kim Chung-hyun for the benefit of his students. The building is located at 16 Insadong 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, with the legal-dong address of 192-21, Gwanhun-dong, and postal code 03145.
Rather than a place for viewing a permanent collection like a large national or public museum, this venue is more like an exhibition space where solo and group exhibitions by calligraphy and literati-painting artists are held in succession. Tourist information materials state that after the Iljung Memorial Association was launched in 2007, the Iljung Calligraphy Memorial Hall was established inside the museum to permanently display representative works by Kim Chung-hyun.
- Established: 1983
- Founder: Calligrapher Iljung Kim Chung-hyun
- Primary fields: Korean calligraphy and literati painting
- Main telephone: 02-734-4205
Approximately 215㎡ on the First Floor and 231㎡ on the Second: Check First Whether the Entire Venue Is in Use
According to publicly available information, the exhibition rooms comprise approximately 215㎡ on the first floor and 231㎡ on the second floor. Exhibitions using both floors, known as full-venue exhibitions, are also held, so rather than leaving after seeing only one floor, check the exhibition information at the entrance and visit both floors.
Exhibitions generally run for one week, from Thursday through the following Wednesday. For example, the 2024 Geunmuk Calligraphy Association Exhibition was held throughout the venue from Thursday, September 19, through Wednesday, September 25, and the 2026 PWB Photography Exhibition was announced for Thursday, April 23, through Wednesday, April 29. Because installation and removal of works may take place around exhibition changeover days, it is safest to confirm by telephone on the day of your visit.
- First-floor exhibition room: Approximately 215㎡
- Second-floor exhibition room: 231㎡
- Rental period: Thursday to the following Wednesday, one week
- Recommended viewing time: 30–50 minutes
Visiting Hours Are 10:00–18:00; Keep Wednesday Exhibition Changeover in Mind
The basic hours listed in tourist information are 10:00–18:00 daily, with no regular closing days throughout the year. However, exhibitions follow a weekly schedule, opening on Thursday and ending on Wednesday, so visitors should consider the possibility that removal preparations may begin late on Wednesday.
No uniform admission fee has been officially confirmed. Separate price information indicates that fees vary by exhibition, with some listings showing 10,000 won. Therefore, do not assume admission is free; check the exhibition poster, the organizer’s announcement, or call the museum at 02-734-4205. The April 2026 PWB Photography Exhibition announcement specified visiting hours of 10:00–18:00.
- Regular hours: 10:00–18:00
- Closing days: Open year-round
- Exhibition closing day: Usually Wednesday
- Admission: Check for each exhibition
Route from Anguk Station Exit 6 and the Insadong Bus Stop into Insadong 9-gil
By subway, the most convenient approach is from Anguk Station on Line 3, heading toward Insadong. Seoul City’s guide map marks the “Anguk Station Exit 6·Insadong” bus stop, but the actual operation of bus routes passing this stop and the stop’s location should be reconfirmed with a real-time transit app before departure.
According to local records, walk approximately 150 meters from the Bukinsamadang side of Insadong-gil toward Insadong Intersection, then enter the Insadong 9-gil alley and continue approximately 20 meters to reach Baegak Art Museum. Because the building is located inside the alley, it is easy to miss if you walk only along the main road of Insadong. Setting “16 Insadong 9-gil” as the destination on a map is the most accurate approach.
- Nearest subway area: Anguk Station, Line 3
- Bus stop listing: Anguk Station Exit 6·Insadong
- Road-name address: 16 Insadong 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- English address: 16, Insadong 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Gwanhun-dong 192-21, Where Insadong’s Antique Street Meets Calligraphy Exhibitions
Gwanhun-dong, where Baegak Art Museum is located, is an area with antique-art and antiquities shops, galleries, and exhibition halls lining Insadong-gil and its inner alleys. Local records also indicate that an antique-art and antiquities shop once operated on the first floor of Baegak Art Museum, showing that the building was connected to Insadong’s traditional art distribution and exhibition environment.
Kim Chung-hyun is regarded as a leading figure in modern and contemporary Korean calligraphy. Baegak Art Museum accommodates both the Iljung Calligraphy Memorial Hall, which honors his calligraphic legacy, and rental exhibitions by contemporary artists. Accordingly, visitors should look beyond the works in a single exhibition and compare how Korean and classical-Chinese calligraphy and literati painting carry traditional calligraphic methods into today’s exhibition formats.
- Lot-number address: 192-21, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Building name: Baegak Art Museum
- Permanent-style space: Iljung Calligraphy Memorial Hall
- Main exhibition formats: Solo, group, and rental exhibitions
Even Though Parking Is Listed as Available, Public Transportation Is More Practical on Insadong 9-gil
Tourist information lists parking as “available.” However, Insadong 9-gil is an alley crowded with pedestrians and shops, so the availability of space, fees, and permitted entry times cannot be confirmed separately in advance. If arriving by car, it is better to call 02-734-4205 before departure to ask about parking availability and conditions of use.
Reliable, up-to-date information about entrances, elevators, or accessible restrooms for wheelchair and stroller users could not be confirmed. Because the route includes moving between the first- and second-floor exhibition rooms, visitors who have difficulty using stairs should call ahead to check accessible facilities. Past local introductions mentioned Japanese and Chinese guidebooks and interpreters, but it has not been confirmed whether these are currently available on a regular basis.
- Parking: Listed as available; calling to confirm on-site conditions is recommended
- Wheelchair and stroller access: Up-to-date facility information unavailable
- Foreign-language information: Regular current availability unconfirmed
- Inquiries: 02-734-4205
A 60–90-Minute Insadong Itinerary That Goes Beyond One Exhibition
Allow approximately 30–50 minutes to visit Baegak Art Museum itself, depending on the exhibition’s size. If the entire venue is in use, around 50 minutes is appropriate, including time to move between the first and second floors and read the work titles, artist biographies, and exhibition introduction.
Afterward, connecting Bukinsamadang, antique shops, and galleries along Insadong-gil creates a 60–90-minute walking route. However, Baegak Art Museum is an exhibition venue rather than a performance hall or interactive museum, and visitor satisfaction can vary greatly depending on the exhibition content. Visitors with little interest in calligraphy or literati painting should first check the artists and genres featured in the day’s exhibition and visit when they match their interests.
- Museum only: Approximately 30–50 minutes
- Combined with Insadong’s alleys: Approximately 60–90 minutes
- Items to check in advance: Exhibition name for the day, whether the entire venue is in use, and admission conditions
- Official website: https://www.baegak.co.kr
Before You Go
- Address
- 16 Insadong 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Gwanhun-dong)
- Hours
- 10:00–18:00
- Closed
- Open year-round
- Admission
- Check for each exhibition
- Phone
- 02-734-4205
- Official site
- http://www.baegak.co.kr
- Transport
- Accessible via the Line 3 Anguk Station area and the “Anguk Station Exit 6·Insadong” bus stop. From Insadong-gil, enter Insadong 9-gil and continue approximately 20 meters.
- Parking
- Listed as available. Confirm fees, space, and conditions of use by telephone.
- Time needed
- 30–50 minutes
- Accessibility
- Up-to-date information about wheelchair and stroller facilities is unavailable. Calling before visiting is recommended. Current availability of foreign-language information also needs to be confirmed.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
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