Seosomun Shrine History Museum — Attraction in Seoul

Opened in 2019 summer, the museum is brand new. It was winning scheme of an international competition. The main concept is construction of several underground squares, finished in brick and open to sky. The main space of the museum which has two squares, one outside and the other inside, is the apex of the experience. The dark ceiling hovering walls are not supported by any column. It’s outer finish is dark metal panels, whereas it’s inner finish is huge media screen that continuously awakens what the purpose of Catholic martyrs deaths was at the turn of the century. Below this dark box, there is an altar which shoots out linear floor lighting that continues to this outdoor sunken plaza‘s linear gravels. It’s a contrast of metal and brick which is reinforced by dark and bright, and musical film and static architecture. The museum has other surprising indoor and outdoor spaces. Exhibition great,...

Though I'm Catholic and interested in learning more about the martyrs during the Joseon era I found this museum to be the most underwhelming I visited in my 10 days in Seoul. The exhibits had minimal English translations and the modernist art scattered around the place served no purpose. When I visited on the morning of August 5th I found the young woman working in the gift shop extremely rude. I stood at the counter for several minutes while she gazed into her mobile phone less than a metre in front of me ignoring me completely. I might add that the service I encountered elsewhere in Seoul was exceptional however I found it somewhat disturbing that in a church run establishment I was treated like I didn't exist. At least it was free though I found 15 minutes more than enough time to explore what was on offer. I gave it an extra star for the cool...

This place is the part of the Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route (2nd course: the eternal life road). This is one of the international shrines in Seoul. If you are Catholic and are interested in learning about Korean Martyrs, this is the place you must visit. Non-Catholic visitors will find the interesting old documents and beautiful architecture. The mass (in Korean) is at 11 am and 3 pm during the weekday except Monday when they close. The Eucharistic exposition is followed by the 11 am mass until 2:30 pm when the Eucharistic blessing is given. The museum is full of documents and sculptures. The theme is the martyrology of the Catholic in the Joseon Dynasty starting in 1785. You can learn the background and the religious history of...