What the National Sports Museum is
The National Sports Museum (국립스포츠박물관) chronicles sports heritage from early survival and play activities through the introduction of eight modern sports, the Japanese colonial period, and the era immediately following liberation.
The permanent exhibition area is divided into History Hall 1, History Hall 2, and the Thematic Hall. From October 13, 2026 to December 31, 2031, History Hall 1 presents the exhibition ‘Sports. Sports! Sports?’ (‘스포츠. 스포츠! 스포츠?’). The exhibition covers activities rooted in survival, martial arts, and games before the term sports became established, the introduction of eight modern sports through modern schools and clubs during the enlightenment period, and the achievements of notable athletes active through the period following liberation.
Opening hours and exhibition schedule
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free |
| Opening hours | 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. |
| Regular closing days | Every Monday, January 1, day of Seollal and Chuseok |
| Location | National Sports Museum (국립스포츠박물관) |
| Address | 서울시 송파구 올림픽로 424 |
Guided tour schedule
Exhibition commentaries are available for elementary school students and older:
- Weekdays (Tuesday–Friday): History Hall (Korean) at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (50 minutes each); Thematic Hall (Korean) at 4:00 p.m. (30 minutes).
- Weekends (Saturday–Sunday): History Hall (Korean) at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (50 minutes each); Thematic Hall (Korean) at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (30 minutes each); History Hall (English) at 2:00 p.m. (summary tour, 30 minutes).
Admission and booking
General visitors may tour the permanent exhibitions freely without advance reservation. However, groups of 20 or more must book in advance on the official website up to one day before the visit date; unreserved groups may be restricted from entering.
Children’s Museum booking criteria
The Children’s Museum (어린이박물관) operates entirely on an advance reservation system. Same-day on-site ticketing or walk-in registration is not available.
| Category | Operating criteria |
|---|---|
| Operating hours | 10:00 a.m.–5:10 p.m. (entry during reserved time slot, unrestricted exit) |
| Booking window | Up to 1 month (30 days) before the visit date |
| Individual recommended age | Infants and children aged 4–8 (infants under 48 months must be included in reservation count) |
| Individual booking limit | Once per day, up to 5 people per booking |
| Group size standard | 6 to 40 people, including chaperones |
| Cancellation deadline | Up to 1 day before the visit date |
Adults without accompanying children or children without an accompanying guardian are not allowed entry into the Children’s Museum. There is no dining space inside the Children’s Museum.
How to get to the National Sports Museum
Visitors arriving by public transport have subway and bus options:
- Subway Line 8: Mongchontoseong Station (몽촌토성역), Exit 1 (352 meters away).
- Subway Line 9: Hanseong Baekje Station (한성백제역), Exit 2 (about a 10-minute walk).
- Bus: Alight at Jamsil Parkrio Apartment Shopping Center · Olympic Center (잠실파크리오아파트상가·올림픽회관) or Olympic Park (올림픽공원) stop, then walk 4 minutes. Served by mainline buses 340, 341, 342, and N31 (late night); branch buses 3318, 3319, 3411, 4318, and 3412; airport bus 6200; and general buses 16, 30, and 30-3.
The museum does not run a dedicated parking facility. Visitors arriving by car must use the Olympic Park (올림픽공원) parking lot:
- Small vehicles: KRW 600 per 10 minutes (maximum KRW 20,000 per day).
- Large vehicles: KRW 2,500 per 10 minutes (maximum KRW 24,000 per day).
- Children’s Museum group tour buses: Must park in the Olympic Park large bus parking lot.
What to know before you go
- Eating and drinking inside the exhibition halls is prohibited.
- Camera flashes, tripods, and commercial photography or filming are not permitted.
- The entire museum premises is a non-smoking area.
- Pets are prohibited, with the exception of guide dogs.
- Entering with wheeled shoes or riding kickboards is not permitted.
Questions visitors ask
Is admission to the National Sports Museum free?
General permanent exhibitions at the National Sports Museum are free to view.
Do I need a reservation to visit the National Sports Museum?
Reservations are not required for general individual visits to the permanent exhibitions. Advance online booking is required for the Children's Museum and for general groups of 20 or more visitors.
Are there English-language tours available?
A 30-minute English summary tour of the History Hall is offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. for elementary school students and older.
Where can I park when visiting the National Sports Museum?
The museum does not have its own parking lot, so drivers must use the Olympic Park parking lot. Small vehicles pay KRW 600 per 10 minutes up to KRW 20,000 per day, and large vehicles pay KRW 2,500 per 10 minutes up to KRW 24,000 per day.
Also in Seoul
Other guides in the same region.
HAMILTON in Busan 2026–2027DREAM THEATER (드림씨어터)
Na Yoon-kwon Concert 2026XSCALA (엑스칼라)
✓ Checked Oct 28 against the official source
English names on this page are plain renderings of the Korean names unless the official source uses an English name; the Korean name is shown so you can search for it or show it to someone.
This page is the English edition of the Korean guide and states only what that guide confirmed against the official source. Details can change; check the official site before you go. English edition written Oct 26, 2026.