The white stone facade and round glass entrance of the National Museum of Korea seen from the plaza

Korean Food History at the National Museum of Korea — Until Oct. 25, Open to 9 p.m. Wed & Sat

Published Oct 21, 2026

Why NOW picked itFor anyone curious where Korean food comes from, or after an indoor plan. It stays open until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so after work works, and Oct. 25 is the last day.

The first thing this exhibition asks is "Have you eaten?" (식사하셨어요?). The National Museum of Korea's special show "Our Tables" ends Oct. 25, and it stays open until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Tracing K-food back to the table

"Our Tables" explains Korean food through who ate, how, what and why. It opened July 1 and closes Oct. 25.

Part one is the table that lived alongside people; part two is the table shaped by nature.

Charred rice, spoons and a farm snack

The Bronze Age charred rice grains are about 3,000 years old. You will also see spoons and chopsticks from King Muryeong's tomb of Baekje, and Kim Hong-do's genre paintings "Jumak" (the tavern) and "Saeccham" (the field snack).

There are even pre-refrigerator food-preservation books, so the table history jumps across eras.

Sound and smell, no food

No real food is served. Video installations evoke the sounds and smells of cooking instead.

Actor Ryu Su-young narrates 21 key objects.

Before you go

Tickets are 5,000 won for adults and 3,000 won for ages 7–24; children 6 and under and visitors 65+ are free. Hours are 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri and Sun, and until 9 p.m. on Wed and Sat, with last entry 40 minutes before closing.

Book on TicketLink or Naver up to the day before, or buy same-day tickets at the museum (up to 10 per person). Ichon Station Exit 2 connects straight to the museum.