Leeum Museum of Art

Overview

The Leeum Museum of Art (Samsung Museum of Art) features three buildings by three star architects — Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas — housing a stunning dual collection of Korean antiquities and international contemporary art.

Highlights

• Three Buildings: Each building by a different world-renowned architect, creating a unique architectural dialogue.
• Korean Treasures: National treasures including celadon ceramics and Buddhist paintings.
• Contemporary Collection: Works by Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, Alberto Giacometti, and leading Korean artists.

History

Opened in 2004 by the Samsung Foundation of Culture, the museum's name combines 'Lee' (the Samsung founding family) with 'um' (Korean for museum).

Visitor Tips

• Architecture Tour: The buildings themselves are worth visiting — take time to appreciate each architect's approach.
• Itaewon Location: Easily combined with an Itaewon visit.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.