From Seoul to Gwacheon — Three Masters of Korean Modern Art

Three Masters, One Itinerary

This route links the work of three masters of Korean modern art—Kim Whanki, Park Soo-keun, and Nam June Paik—across Seoul and Gwacheon. It fits a full day or an easy overnight, using three signature museums.

1. Kim Whanki — Whanki Museum & Leeum

The Whanki Museum in Buam-dong (1992, architect Woo Kyu-sung) is devoted to Kim Whanki (1913–1974), with his Paris-period and dot-painting series on permanent rotation. Leeum in Hannam-dong pairs his late "Universe" works with the broader Korean/Asian canon across three wings designed by Koolhaas, Botta, and Nouvel.

2. Park Soo-keun — MMCA Deoksugung & Seoul

Park Soo-keun (1914–1965) is best seen through MMCA: the Seoul branch often hangs him beside Kim Whanki and Lee Jungseop in the modern rotation, while MMCA Deoksugung is the venue for periodic Park retrospectives. The original Park Soo-keun Museum is in Yanggu, Gangwon, but MMCA is the closest in-metro option.

3. Nam June Paik — MMCA Gwacheon & NJP Art Center

End at MMCA Gwacheon, home to Paik's monumental The More, The Better (1,003 CRT monitors, 18 m tall), installed for the 1986 opening and reactivated in 2022 after restoration. For a deeper dive, extend to the Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin, about 40 minutes by car.

Getting Around

A full-day version: Leeum → MMCA Seoul → MMCA Gwacheon. In-city is easiest by subway; MMCA Gwacheon is a ten-minute walk from Seoul Grand Park station on Line 4. MMCA has a combined pass, and the last Wednesday of each month is a free "Culture Day." To include the Whanki Museum, make it an overnight and pair with Buam-dong and Samcheong-dong for food and architecture.