From a Closed School to Hadamjeong: A Day at Nampo Art Museum

How Yeongnam Middle School Became Nampo Art Museum in 2005

Nampo Art Museum opened on February 19, 2005, as Jeollanam-do’s first registered Type 1 art museum. The present building was created by remodeling the former Yeongnam Middle School, which had closed, so rather than resembling a typical newly built art museum, it is a place where visitors can read both the traces of a school building and the history of local education.

The predecessor of Yeongnam Middle School was Jeomam Middle School of Palyeong Academy, a school foundation. Founder Gwak Gwi-dong provided his own property in 1965 to establish a learning center in the form of a higher civic school, and in 1967 founded Jeomam Middle School of Palyeong Academy. After the administrative district was changed to Yeongnam-myeon, the school’s name was changed to Yeongnam Middle School in 1989. It produced its 36th graduating class on February 28, 2003, and then closed.

Gwak Gwi-dong’s Pen Name, “Nampo,” and the Foot of Palyeongsan Mountain

The name “Nampo” in the museum’s name comes from the pen name of its founder, Gwak Gwi-dong. The museum is located at the foot of Palyeongsan Mountain, and the conversion of the site of the former school into a cultural space for exhibitions and education determined its present setting and character.

The address is 1081 Palyeong-ro, Yeongnam-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, Nampo Art Museum. The site covers 8,200㎡, and the total floor area of the building is 965.13㎡. Nearby are Palyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest, Neunggasa Temple, and Namyeol Beach. If traveling by car, it is more practical to combine the nature, temple, and beach attractions in the Palyeongsan area into one itinerary rather than visiting only the museum.

Four Exhibition Galleries and a 750㎡ Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Area

Indoors, there are four exhibition galleries with a total exhibition area of approximately 242㎡. The collection storage area is 66㎡, the archive room is 33.75㎡, and the museum also has a performance hall and a creative education room. Rather than planning a visit solely around the indoor exhibitions, visitors should allow time to see both the inside and outside of the building.

The outdoor sculpture exhibition area covers 750㎡, and beside the pond is Hadamjeong Pavilion, a resting place for visitors. The parking area is listed as covering 1,000㎡, so parking is available, but the publicly available information does not specify the number of spaces or parking fees. To see both the indoor exhibitions and outdoor areas, a day suitable for walking outdoors is preferable to a rainy or very windy day.

Why Hadamjeong Became Jeollanam-do’s 10th Private Garden

Hadamjeong was registered as Jeollanam-do’s 10th private garden on September 1, 2019. The garden covers 8,182㎡, including 6,439㎡ of green space, and is described as the first private garden in Korea to be registered as a cultural institution.

The garden’s themed areas are a flowering-plant garden, the museum and garden, and aquatic plants. Accordingly, admission is not calculated separately for the museum and Hadamjeong; the regular admission fee of 5,000 won includes access to both spaces. Since the pondside pavilion and aquatic-plant area are the highlights of Hadamjeong, the natural order is to visit the galleries first and then move to the outdoor garden.

Nampo Art Museum’s Collection and Namnong Heo Geon’s 1961 Landscape

Nampo Art Museum has been described as holding approximately 600 works, while a 2007 report stated that it had around 350 works by artists from Gwangju and Jeollanam-do. This collection system, which includes works by local artists, reflects the museum’s founding purpose, distinct from that of large metropolitan-area art museums.

Among the collection is Landscape by Namnong Heo Geon, a 112×112 cm work created in 1961 using ink and light colors on hanji. Director Gwak Hyeong-su of Nampo Art Museum purchased it from an acquaintance in 2008, and it underwent conservation and restoration at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in August 2009. However, whether the work is on display on the day of a visit may vary depending on the exhibition arrangement.

Visiting from Wednesday to Sunday for 5,000 Won

Opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00–17:00, and the museum is closed every Monday and Tuesday. It is also closed on New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year’s Day, and Chuseok Day. Additional closures, such as during exhibition preparation periods, follow notices posted on the website. Regular admission is 5,000 won and includes access to Nampo Art Museum and the private garden Hadamjeong; preschool children and visitors with disabilities enter free of charge.

Before visiting, check notices about exhibition preparation periods on the official website, www.nampoart.co.kr. For inquiries, call 061-832-0003. The fax number is 061-832-0004. Publicly available information does not specify the recommended viewing time, whether payment is cash-only, whether photography is permitted inside the galleries, or whether English information and an audio guide are available.

How to Travel from Seoul, Gwangju, or Suncheon to Yangsa

For travelers departing from Seoul, the official directions recommend traveling from the Honam Line at Gangnam Express Bus Terminal to Goheung Public Bus Terminal, then taking a local bus bound for Namyeol and getting off at Yangsa. From Gwangju, travel from Gwangju Bus Terminal to Goheung Public Bus Terminal, then take the same local bus bound for Namyeol.

From Suncheon, travel from Suncheon Comprehensive Bus Terminal to Goheung Bus Terminal, then take a local bus bound for Namyeol and get off at Yangsa. The publicly available information does not specify the bus route number, service interval, or the walking distance and time from Yangsa bus stop to the museum, so visitors using public transportation should first coordinate their schedule with the next bus departure time at the terminal.

When arriving by car, drive straight for approximately three minutes from the entrance to Palyeongsan Recreation Forest toward Dohwa and Narodo; Nampo Art Museum is on the right. Parking is available, and the parking area covers 1,000㎡, but the number of spaces and fees are not provided. Nearby attractions include the Space Science Museum at the Naro Space Center, Namyeol Beach, Neunggasa Temple, and Palyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest.

Nampo Art Museum’s Expansion into a Cultural Space Since 2006

Nampo Art Museum added its second and third exhibition galleries in May 2006, and on January 1, 2007, changed its name from Nampo Cultural Arts Center to Nampo Art Museum. In May 2012, it added a fourth exhibition gallery, establishing the current four-gallery structure.

Records indicate that since opening, the museum has held more than 60 exhibitions, over 180 community-linked educational programs, and more than 30 performances. The 100-seat performance hall shows that the museum is not merely a place to view exhibitions but also a facility that accommodates local performances. The current website offers menus for children and teenagers, adults, and permanent hands-on programs.

Its community activities have also extended beyond the building. On April 30, 2013, Nampo Art Museum completed a mural on the retaining wall of Sorokdo, and in July 2021 it received a Presidential Award in the culture and arts category for its contribution to improving the welfare of people affected by Hansen’s disease. On May 12, 2025, it received the “2025 Proud Museum Professional Award,” and on May 23 of the same year, it was selected as a “Jeonnam Unique Venue.”