Reading Seoul’s Future Three Floors Underground at the 1937 Postal Bureau Site
The Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall is a specialized exhibition venue for urban planning and architecture that opened on March 28, 2019, on the site of the former 1937 Joseon Governor-General’s Office Postal Bureau building, between Deoksugung Palace and the Seoul Metropolitan Council. Just a one-minute walk from Exit 3 of City Hall Station, it offers insights into Seoul’s spatial transformation and current urban policies through its ground-level plaza, rooftop Seoul Maru, and underground exhibition spaces.
A Site Transformed from the 1937 Postal Affairs Bureau Building into a Civic Exhibition Hall in 2019
Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall is located at 119 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, between Deoksugung Palace and the main building of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. The Joseon Government-General Postal Affairs Bureau building was erected here in 1937, and the site was used as the Namdaemun annex of the National Tax Service from 1978 until it was demolished in 2015. Seoul launched a project to restore the historical character of the Sejong-daero area in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, and the exhibition hall opened on March 28, 2019.
The building consists of one above-ground floor and three basement floors, with a total floor area of 2,998㎡. The above-ground level is an open space with the character of a civic plaza, while the exhibitions are primarily arranged in the basement. Rather than being a museum that preserves the former National Tax Service annex as it was, the site's significance lies in its transformation into a public pedestrian and exhibition space after the government office building from the colonial period that occupied the site was demolished.
How to Enter Through the Walls of Deoksugung Palace, One Minute from City Hall Station Exit 3
The simplest access point is Exit 3 of City Hall Station on Subway Lines 1 and 2. According to Seoul's public service reservation information, it takes about one minute to walk from the exit to the exhibition hall; head toward the area between Deoksugung Palace and the Seoul Metropolitan Council. Tourist information states that it takes about five minutes from Exit 6 of Gwanghwamun Station, about nine minutes from Exit 1-1 of Euljiro 1-ga Station, and about 14 minutes from Exit 6 of Jonggak Station.
For buses, use stops around City Hall. The listed services are Airport Bus 6005 and 6701; trunk buses 103, 150, 172, 401, 402, 405, 406, and 472; branch buses 1711, 7016, and 7022; and village buses Jongno 09 and Jongno 11. Dedicated parking information for the exhibition hall was not found in the official guidance, so it is safer to use the subway rather than plan a visit around driving.
Free Exhibition Route: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00, with Entry Required Before 17:30
Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall is generally open from 10:00 to 18:00, Tuesday through Sunday, with last admission at 17:30. It is closed on Mondays; when Monday is a public holiday, it closes the following day instead. It is also closed on January 1, Lunar New Year's Day, Chuseok, and other dates designated separately by the exhibition hall, so it is best to confirm holiday-period visits in advance by calling 02-736-8050.
Basic admission is free. Special exhibitions may operate separately, however, so visitors seeking a particular exhibition, docent tour, or educational program should check the schedule and reservation requirements on the exhibition hall's website on the day of their visit. Allowing 45–60 minutes is suitable for a quick exhibition visit, while about 90 minutes works well if you include the rooftop Seoul Maru and the underground pedestrian passage.
Layers of Seoul Seen in Gallery 1 on B2 and Gallery 2 on B3
According to the official space guide, Gallery 1 on basement level 2 has a large multivision display, while Corridor Exhibition 1 presents an introduction and history of the exhibition hall. The same floor also contains the Civic Communication Room, Digital Review Room, and Our Gallery, showing that the exhibition hall is designed not merely for permanent exhibitions but also to accommodate competitions, education, and civic participation.
Gallery 2 on basement level 3 is a multipurpose space that can host international exchanges and seminars in addition to exhibitions. Seoul Metropolitan Government information from 2024 confirms an example in which an exhibition docent program was offered here three times a day, but docent times and availability vary by exhibition. Rather than expecting only fixed permanent content, check the exhibition title, location, and explanation times for the date of your visit to make planning your route easier.
Sejong-daero Read from Outside the Exhibition: Rooftop Seoul Maru and the Underground Walkway
Seoul Maru, the exhibition hall's rooftop, is a space designed for outdoor exhibitions and relaxation. From ground level, visitors can compare the building heights and street axes of Deoksugung Palace, Seoul Anglican Cathedral, and the City Hall area. Going up after viewing the underground exhibition creates a sequence of reading the city through an exhibition and then checking it in the actual streets. Whether rooftop events operate may vary depending on the season and weather.
The basement levels of the exhibition hall connect via an underground pedestrian passage toward Seoul Citizens' Hall and City Hall Station. This is useful for people moving toward the City Hall Station area while avoiding rain or midsummer heat, although the sections open for access may vary depending on events and facility operations. If you find the underground route easy to lose your way in, first remember the location of the ground-level entrance, and after your visit it is better to choose either the Deoksugung Palace direction or Seoul Plaza direction before exiting.
120 Meters and Two and a Half Hours to Deoksugung Palace, Gojong's Path, and Jeongdong Park
Deoksugung Palace and the Jeongdong area can be combined with a visit to the exhibition hall. According to Seoul Metropolitan Government information, Gojong's Path, which leads from the stonewall road of Deoksugung Palace toward Jeongdong Park and the former Russian Legation, is about 120 meters long. After walking from the exhibition hall toward the alleys by Deoksugung Palace, following the route of Deoksugung Palace, Gojong's Path, and Jeongdong Park lets you compare Seoul's royal palace district and modern diplomatic spaces along one itinerary.
With around two and a half hours, a good division is 60 minutes for the exhibition hall, 40 minutes for the exterior of Deoksugung Palace and its stonewall road, 30 minutes for Gojong's Path and Jeongdong Park, and 20 minutes for travel and rest. If you also want to tour the palace interior, allow additional visiting time and admission requirements. Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall is especially well suited to travelers interested in the context of Sejong-daero as a place where colonial-era government offices, modern administration, and the boundary of the royal palace overlap, rather than to travelers who only want to see Deoksugung Palace.
What to Know When Using the Seoul Gallery Underground Passage in 2026
Seoul Metropolitan Government's 2026 program information introduces the underground passage connecting B2 of Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall with B1 and B2 of Seoul Gallery, titled "My Friend Seoul," and B1 of City Star Mall at Euljiro 1-ga Station. The same information announces a schedule for Seoul Gallery's regular performances from April 18 to December 5, 2026: Wednesdays from 12:30 to 13:00 and Saturdays from 14:00 to 14:30.
Therefore, visitors arriving at lunchtime on Wednesday or in the afternoon on Saturday can connect an exhibition hall visit with an underground performance on the same day. However, the performance is part of Seoul Gallery's schedule, not a regular program of Seoul Urban Architecture Exhibition Hall itself, so check the performers and whether the event is taking place for your specific date shortly before visiting. The exhibition hall's main contact number is 02-736-8050, and its official website is https://sca.seoul.go.kr/seoulhour/site/main/home.
Before You Go
- Address
- 119 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul (Taepyeongno 1-ga)
- Hours
- Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00 (last admission 17:30)
- Closed
- Every Monday (the following day when Monday is a public holiday), January 1, Lunar New Year's Day, Chuseok, and exhibition hall-designated closure days
- Admission
- Free (special exhibitions may operate separately)
- Phone
- 02-736-8050
- Official site
- https://sca.seoul.go.kr/seoulhour/site/main/home
- Transport
- About a one-minute walk from City Hall Station Exit 3 on Lines 1 and 2. About a five-minute walk from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 6. Buses 103, 150, 172, 401, 402, 405, 406, 472, 1711, 7016, 7022, Jongno 09, Jongno 11, 6005, and 6701.
- Time needed
- 45–60 minutes for the exhibition; about 90 minutes including Seoul Maru and the underground pedestrian passage
- Accessibility
- The underground exhibition levels are connected to the underground pedestrian passage, but visitors are advised to call 02-736-8050 before visiting for details about wheelchair and stroller assistance.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official guidance again before your visit.
Places
Nearby Attractions 2
-
1
Deoksugung PalaceA palace where you can explore the royal buildings of the Joseon Dynasty and Western-style architecture from the Korean Empire period -
2
Gojong's RoadA 120-meter historical walking trail following the route taken by King Gojong during the Agwan Pacheon refuge.
Food & Dining 4
-
3
Yurim-myeonA noodle specialty restaurant serving handmade buckwheat noodles, bibim buckwheat noodles, and garak-guksu. -
4
Jinju HoegwanA traditional restaurant serving rich kongguksu (cold noodles in soybean broth) and Korean dishes. -
5
Mugyo-dong BugeogukjipA long-established restaurant serving breakfast centered on a single dish: dried pollock soup. -
6
Manjok Ohyang Jokbal City Hall BranchA specialty restaurant serving jokbal (braised pig’s feet) and bossam (boiled pork) seasoned with five spices.
Events in This Area
Festivals in This Area
More Travel Guides in This Area
Travel Guide
Seoul Animation Center, from Namsan via Myeongdong and back to Namsan
Travel Guide
Seoul Jungang Market, 5 minutes from Sindang Station Exit 2, where dawn ingredients meet Sindang Creative Arcade
Travel Guide
A 108 m Mountain Once Home to a Military Base Reopens as Baebongsan Circular Trail with a 4.5 km Barrier-Free Deck Path
Travel Guide
From a 1969 Mixed-Use Complex to a Street of More Than 300 Music Shops: How to Explore Nakwon Arcade
Korea News
![ZEROBASEONE ‘ZEROBASEONE Shining Even at Night!’ [★Video]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1786629298196_13d8a4bb_news_075face7-fb4e-402c-b833-25ccaf88cf8f.jpg)
News
ZEROBASEONE ‘ZEROBASEONE Shining Even at Night!’ [★Video]
News
Kwon Eun-bi, First Comeback Since Moving from Woollim to RBW: “Aiming for a September Release”
News
“Did Jungkook’s connection continue?” Pop star Usher spotted warmly hugging BTS’s RM and J-Hope
News