The 1/8-scale Joseon Model Village at the Lotte World Folk Museum on the 3rd Floor of Jamsil, Opened on January 14, 1989

January 14, 1989: Why Lotte World Folk Museum Was Built in Jamsil, the Land of Songpa Market and Songpa Sandae Nori

Lotte World Folk Museum opened on January 14, 1989 as part of Lotte Group’s cultural business. Tourism data describes this site as a museum of 8,039㎡ total area, created in Jamsil, home to Songpa Market and Songpa Sandae Nori. Even before the large indoor theme park moved into the same complex, the space was designed to make Jamsil a gateway for introducing Korea’s everyday history and play culture together.

The core of the exhibition is not simply displaying rare original artifacts, but showing historical scenes and everyday life scenes together with verified models. By connecting four spaces—Historical Exhibition Hall, Joseon Dynasty Model Village, Play Yard, and Market Street—the museum arranges time from the Paleolithic era to the period of Japanese colonial rule in one loop, making it especially easy for foreign visitors who want to see daily life scenes before dynastic timelines.

A 1/8-scale Joseon model village using more than 2,000 dolls, placing royal and commoner life in one view

The museum’s signature zone is a Joseon Dynasty model village built at 1/8 scale. With more than 2,000 dolls, it recreates the four seasons, seasonal customs, rites of passage, and the lives of yangban and commoners. Thanks to the reduced scale, you can compare the size differences between palace rituals, agriculture, market life, and housing scenes in a single glance.

The Joseon gallery is divided into themes such as the Gyeongbokgung throne audience scene, local government offices, agricultural life, religious rites, livelihood activities, and social systems and customs. Because the exhibition is arranged based on the Gukjo Oryeui, the Gyeongbokgung throne audience painting, and genre paintings by Kim Hong-do and Shin Yun-bok, it is more rewarding if you follow “which class is doing what” rather than seeing the small dolls as mere decorations.

From the Bangudae Petroglyphs to the Muryongsan Tomb and Manwoldae: 6 places to pause by era

After entering, the route moves from the Paleolithic Age through the Three Kingdoms, Goryeo, and Joseon in order. The Prehistoric Hall includes dioramas of the Cheongwon Durubong, Yeoncheon Jeongok-ri, Seoul Amsa-dong, and Buyeo Songguk-ri sites, and also displays a replica of the Ulsan Cheonjeon-ri Petroglyphs. Considering how far apart the actual sites are, being able to review regional site differences in one indoor visit is one of the museum’s strengths.

For the Three Kingdoms period, the museum continues with Goguryeo life scenes based on the murals of Anak Tomb No. 3, a 1/50 model of Jeongnimsa Temple Site, and full-scale models of the Muryongsan Tomb and Seosan Buso-kult Buddha. The Goryeo hall includes the Palman Daejanggyeong, inlaid celadon, and a model of Gaeseong Manwoldae, while the Joseon hall includes an interactive model of the Battle of Hansan. If you only have 70 to 90 minutes, it is better to prioritize the six places below.

• Replica of the Ulsan Cheonjeon-ri Petroglyphs
• Recreated daily life scene from Goguryeo Anak Tomb No. 3
• Full-scale model of the Baekje Muryongsan Tomb
• Model of Silla Seokguram, Gameunsa, and Donggung and Wolji
• Reconstructed model of Goryeo Gaeseong Manwoldae
• Interactive model of the Joseon Battle of Hansan and the 1/8 model village

Weekdays 11:00~19:00, adults 5,000 KRW: the difference between ticket sales closing 30 to 60 minutes before

As of August 2026, visiting hours are 11:00~19:00 on weekdays, with admission closing at 18:30. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, hours are 11:00~20:00, with admission closing at 19:00, one hour later. Since it is open year-round, there is no need to apply the same itinerary logic as other Seoul museums that close on Mondays.

The individual admission fee is 5,000 KRW for adults, 3,000 KRW for teenagers, and 2,000 KRW for children. For groups of 15 or more, the rate is 3,500 KRW for adults, 2,500 KRW for teenagers, and 1,500 KRW for children. The main information line is 02-411-4762~4, and the official website is https://adventure.lotteworld.com/museum/.

• Weekdays: 11:00~19:00 / admission closes at 18:30
• Weekends and public holidays: 11:00~20:00 / admission closes at 19:00
• Individual adult: 5,000 KRW
• Individual teenager: 3,000 KRW
• Individual child: 2,000 KRW

How to distinguish the 144 m route from Jamsil Station Exit 2 on Lines 2 and 8 and the dedicated elevator at Exit 3

The address is 240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 3rd floor of Lotte World Shopping Mall. The official Seoul tourism guide lists it as 144 m from Exit 2 of Jamsil Station on Lines 2 and 8. This is a useful reference when approaching from the road and entering the Lotte World complex, and when entering the destination into a map, search for “Lotte World Folk Museum.”

The Songpa-gu guide suggests taking the dedicated elevator in front of the Lotte World main gate from Exit 3 of Jamsil Station and going up to the 3rd floor. Inside Adventure, look for the elevator and the sign reading “3F Folk Museum” in the direction of the carousel; the museum entrance and Market Street are attached to the same 3rd floor.

• Subway: Jamsil Station on Lines 2 and 8
• Road access reference: about 144 m from Exit 2
• Dedicated elevator route: Exit 3 → in front of the Lotte World main gate → 3rd floor
• Destination floor: 3rd floor of Lotte World Shopping Mall

Parking discount of 1,000 KRW per hour with museum ticket, and stroller/wheelchair movement routes

Use the Lotte World parking lot for vehicles. With a Folk Museum admission ticket, the parking discount is 1,000 KRW per hour, with settlement available for up to 2 hours. On weekends, when visitors to Jamsil Station, Lotte World Mall, and Seokchon Lake overlap, subway access is the easier choice for reading your route and saving time.

The Seoul tourism guide lists stroller rental, wheelchair rental, accessible restrooms, disabled parking, and accessible pathways and elevators as facility items. The information languages are Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. If you use the dedicated 3rd-floor elevator before stairs, the route to the entrance with a stroller or mobility aid becomes simpler.

• Parking: use the Lotte World parking lot
• Admission ticket discount: 1,000 KRW per hour, up to 2 hours
• Accessibility: elevator, accessible pathways, accessible restrooms, disabled parking
• Rental: stroller and wheelchair
• Information languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese

Evening performance staged across the entire Folk Museum, June 26 to August 30, 2026

As of August 2, 2026, the immersive theater performance “Stay Alive in Museum” is being held at the Folk Museum from June 26 to August 30. The performance runs from 19:10 to 21:00 and consists of a 20-minute pre-show and a 90-minute main show. The recommended age is 16 and older, and the ticket price is 50,000 KRW.

This performance uses the entire Folk Museum as its stage and creates the story and ending together with 10 actors. During the same period, the museum’s Play Yard also hosts the children’s play “Rabbit Goes to the Dragon Palace” from July 17 to August 23, with sessions on Tuesdays through Fridays at 13:00 and 15:00, and on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00, 14:00, and 16:00. For a regular exhibition visit, plan 70 to 90 minutes during the day, and if you are booking the performance, add the separate 110-minute show time to your Jamsil schedule.