Seoul to Open First Public Photography Museum in Dobong-gu

The city of Seoul has announced that the first public art museum in South Korea dedicated exclusively to photography, the Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Photography (서울시립사진미술관), will officially open on May 29 in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu.

The museum, which spans two underground levels and four above ground, was designed through a collaboration between Austrian architect Mladen Jadrich and Korean architect Yoon Geun-joo.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore various photographic works and participate in engaging programs. To celebrate its opening, the museum will host a special exhibition titled 'Light Perspectives' (광(光)적인 시선) starting on the opening day. A city official stated that the exhibition will feature works from renowned artists that highlight the historical origins of artistic photography in Korea.

The Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Photography will operate as a branch of the Seoul Museum of Art, welcoming guests from Tuesday to Sunday, with operating hours from 10 AM to 8 PM on weekdays. The museum will be closed every Monday, and all exhibitions will be free of charge.

Choi Eun-joo, the director of the Seoul Museum of Art, expressed that visitors to the photography museum will have the chance to experience the artistic value of photography.