• The Room of Quiet Contemplation on the second floor is one of the museum’s must-see spaces, comparable to the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.
• In this serene and profound room, you encounter just two pensive bodhisattva statues. Created in the 6th and 7th centuries respectively, these gilt-bronze figures showcase the finest metalworking techniques of their time.
• The pensive posture embodies spiritual contemplation, while the gentle smile suggests enlightenment. This is one of the most beloved artworks among Koreans, so I highly recommend visiting this room. Link

• The museum houses a remarkably well-preserved ancient Corinthian bronze helmet.
• It was awarded to Korean marathoner Sohn Kee-chung for his victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
• Sohn’s Olympic victory during Korea’s loss of sovereignty made him a national hero still remembered by Koreans nearly 90 years later.

• The museum displays two Silla Dynasty gold crowns and gold belts excavated from Gyeongju. Of the six gold crowns discovered, the other four are housed at the Gyeongju National Museum.
• These crowns, representing the Silla Kingdom, showcase remarkably advanced metalworking that is hard to believe was created 1,500 years ago.
• This is the iconic form Koreans picture when they think of a royal crown.

• The museum is huge. Pick several sections that interest you most and take your time.
• Trying to see it all can leave you exhausted, especially if you are not much of a museum person.

• The museum’s entrance frames N Seoul Tower in the distance like a living painting.
• It’s a beloved spot for photographers capturing silhouettes at the top of the stairs with the mountain and tower behind.

• The museum has arguably Korea’s most sophisticated and high-quality gift shop in all of Korea.
• You will find charming and creative products like miniature pensive bodhisattva statues, dancheong-patterned keyboards, and Seokguram-inspired lamps. The shop is worth visiting even if you are not planning to buy anything.
• Visits increased exceptionally after Kpop Demon Hunters.

MU:DS Website : Korean | English

• As you walk through the museum, you’ll easily spot a massive ten-story stone pagoda in a lobby. This pagoda has a story with a strange twist.
• It was originally built in 1395 in Kaesong, a city now in North Korea.
• In the early 1900s, a Japanese official illegally looted it and took it to Japan. After facing public backlash, he returned it to Seoul… Yep, Seoul. Then Korea was divided into North and South.
• So, Ironically, South Koreans can see this beautiful pagoda today because a Japanese official illegally looted it.

• In 2020, BTS held a special performance at the museum called ‘Dear Class of 2020’.
• The video attracted massive attention during the pandemic, when BTS was already a global phenomenon.
• Watch BTS | Dear Class Of 2020