Reading the Time of Korean Tea from the Fifth Floor beside Boseong’s Tea Fields, Korea Tea Museum

Why it opened in September 2010: a building explaining tea culture in the production area of Boseong green tea

The Korean Tea Museum is located at 775 Nokcha-ro, Boseong-eup, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, inside the Korean Tea Culture Park. Since opening in September 2010, it has operated as a public museum covering tea cultivation, production, history, and everyday culture. The building has one basement level and five above-ground floors.

Boseong is introduced as a tea-growing region accounting for 34% of the nation's tea cultivation area and 37% of its production, with 1,097 farming households and approximately 90 tea-processing companies. Boseong green tea was registered in 2002 as Korea's first geographical indication, No. 1, and the museum was established as a space explaining both the brand of this production area and its tea culture.

An itinerary for seeing the Tea Culture Room on the first floor, Tea History Room on the second floor, and Tea Lifestyle Hall on the third floor in 60–90 minutes

It is easiest to follow the exhibits by starting in the Tea Culture Room on the first floor. This floor covers the process from tea cultivation to production through videos and displays and is arranged so that children can also follow the production stages.

The Tea History Room on the second floor covers tea culture from ancient times to the present, as well as period-specific tea utensils and artifacts, while the Tea Lifestyle Hall on the third floor is a space for tea-related daily life and hands-on programs. Viewing only the exhibits takes 60–90 minutes; if you also include a walk through the park and Botjae, allowing half a day is advisable.

Why Boseong’s fog and maritime climate suited tea plants

Boseong is described as having a higher elevation than the surrounding areas, resulting in a large diurnal temperature range, and as being influenced by a maritime climate. Frequent fog helps maintain humidity, creating conditions favorable for tea-plant growth; these natural conditions formed the basis for Boseong becoming a large-scale green-tea-growing region.

Tea cultivation in Boseong began in earnest during the Japanese colonial period. After liberation, abandoned tea fields were revived when Jang Yeong-seop acquired them in 1957 and established Daehan Tea Industry Co., Ltd. The museum allows visitors to understand the region’s industrial history within the broader flow of tea culture.

Why to reconfirm same-day operations by phone before visiting from 09:00 to 18:00

Tourism information materials list the Korean Tea Museum’s operating hours as 09:00–18:00, with last admission at 17:00. However, some other public tourism information lists the hours as 10:00–17:00, so if you are traveling a long distance, it is safest to call the main number, 061-852-0918, before departure to confirm the day’s operating hours and whether the museum is closed.

Some materials list admission fees as 1,000 won for adults, 700 won for teenagers, and 500 won for children. Hands-on programs may operate separately and are reported to require advance reservations. If you want to participate in a tea ceremony, tea making, tea-food preparation, or green-tea natural cosmetics workshop, it is best to ask by phone about the schedule and cost together.

• Main telephone: 061-852-0918
• Official information: https://www.boseong.go.kr/tour/tourist/9tour/tea_museum
• Address: 775 Nokcha-ro, Boseong-eup, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do

A route extending to Botjae within the 90,067-square-meter Korean Tea Culture Park

The museum is located within the 90,067-square-meter Korean Tea Culture Park, which also includes the World Tea Tree Botanical Garden, Boseong Tea Evaluation Center, a multipurpose outdoor performance venue, a tea-making area, a youth training center, and an astronomy and science center. Park information lists parking for 150 vehicles and a capacity of 200 people.

Nearby Botjae is a cultural, artistic, natural, and tea-themed complex in Boseong that opened in 2015. After first viewing tea cultivation and history at the museum, combining Botjae’s History and Culture Hall with its café lets you connect Boseong’s tea industry and landscapes in different ways.

How to take a Gunyak-bound bus from Boseong Station or Boseong Intercity Bus Terminal

By public transportation, visitors have traditionally been advised to take a Gunyak-bound bus from the Usan-ri bus stop in front of Boseong Station or from Boseong Intercity Bus Terminal, then get off at the Daehan Dawon stop. According to older tourism information, the journey took approximately 26 minutes from the terminal and 23 minutes from in front of Boseong Station, but rural bus schedules may change, so check with Boseong County or the terminal on the day of departure.

Regarding stop access, the Korean Tea Museum bus stop is located at 781 Nokcha-ro, approximately 0.6 km from the museum. Drivers can use the Korean Tea Culture Park parking lot. During peak seasons and festivals, vehicles visiting the tea-field area may increase congestion, so planning a morning visit is advantageous for adjusting parking and the route.

Tea-culture sightseeing with an elevator, accessible restroom, and dedicated parking spaces

Barrier-free information from the Korea Tourism Organization indicates an accessible restroom, an elevator for visitors with disabilities, dedicated accessible parking spaces, and no step at the main entrance. As the building has five floors, visitors who need to move between floors can use the elevator.

The same information also lists wheelchair rental, convenience services for visitors with visual or hearing impairments, a nursing room, and stroller rental. Since the actual number of rental items available, foreign-language information, and the extent of wheelchair access in the hands-on areas may vary by visit date, it is advisable to inquire in advance at 061-852-0918.

How visit preparations change during the May–June tea-leaf harvest and the Boseong Dahyang Festival

Tea leaves in Boseong are generally harvested from May to August, with May and June often mentioned as the period when the tea aroma is strongest. Tea-making experiences at production workshops may be available during this time, but because programs require advance reservations, you should confirm the schedule beforehand rather than expecting to register on-site.

The Boseong Dahyang Festival is a signature event held around the Korean Tea Culture Park. Even if you only plan to visit the museum during the festival, road conditions, parking, and experience reservations may differ from usual, so arriving at the park in the morning and traveling in the order of museum → Botjae → tea fields can help manage the route.