Seoul Children's Museum

Yesterday the kids and I went and checked out the Seoul Children's Museum. It is located in Children's Grand Park, on the east side of Seoul. We had been to the park before, but didn't go to the Children's Museum last time.

The museum is composed of 4 levels. We did not check out the basement level, nor the toddler playground (on the second level) while we were there yesterday. Once inside the actually activities area, there are no stairs to go up and down. To go from one level to the next, you walk along ramps. This is ingenious! Small children and stairs don't always get along, but gradual incline ramps and little legs are like salt and pepper. There are elevators in the lobby area to take you to each floor as well.

The hours are Tuesday-Sunday 10am to 6pm (last admission at 4pm). *CLOSED MONDAYS and Korean holidays.*

The cost of a 4 person 1-year membership was 50,000 won (roughly $50US). We plan on coming back, especially in the winter when it's not as nice to be outside, so I got us a membership. Children under 3 years are free. Anyone 3 years or older is 4,000 won each. So, for us, visiting more than 4 times within a year is more cost effective to buy a membership than pay per visit. I could have bought a 3 person membership for 40,000 won, and exclude my husband since I'm not sure how often he will be able to make the trip up with us, but I spent the extra 10,000 won and got him a membership too. I figure, I'm helping to support a great place so I don't mind if he never gets his money worth out of his membership.

*If your child is under 3 yrs old, bring something showing his/her age (unless the kid is an obvious baby). I was asked if I had my son's child ID, which I didn't because I don't carry around his passport with me. I will just bring a copy of his passport next time. They let us in no problem, but I would hate for someone to have an issue with obtaining free admittance for a child under 3 years old!*

For those opting to drive, instead of taking public transportation, they do have onsite parking. Parking varies from 300 to 900 won per 10 minutes depending on car size. So, if you go and stay for 120 minutes (2 hours), in an economy size car, you will pay 3,600 won.

The museum can be reached by taking subway line 7 to the Children's Grand Park stop. Exit out of door number 1, the park entrance is to the right, through the large elaborate gate. The museum is on your first left you can make within the park. You can't miss the large building.

The Fun Stuff!
Now here are pictures of all the cool and interactive stuff your kids get to mess around and play with!

Upon entering the interactive area, you are greeted this:

The kids can climb up to a cool little club house and look at things through magnifying glasses and telescopes. They can then go down the slide to a soft padded landing. There is a giant The Giving Tree book (in Hangul) but still fun to turn the pages. You can learn what food different animals like to eat and the habitats of some animals.

Also on the main level, there is a fish to decorate with mini CDs, a place to put on a puppet show, a mini animation studio, a dance studio,  and a music studio.

The 3rd floor has fun science with water and air, a runway for putting on a fashion show from around the world, a place to learn about different currencies, a tv studio and a place to build 4 famous buildings.

Science with air

World Fashion Show

 TV Studio

Can you build an Egyptian pyramid?

WATER PLAY!
What kid doesn't love to play with water?

After exploring the 1st and 3rd floors, we went out into the park to look for some lunch. We got a bowl of boxed ramen (healthy right? um, no not really), a roll of kimbap, apple slices and cherry tomatoes we brought from home, and ice cream cones for dessert.

After lunch it was back to explore the 2nd floor! It has a lot to do with spelling in Hangul, a giant climbing apparatus and outer space activities.

Can you spell the name in Hangul?

 How about your own name?

 

 Get your muscles moving and climb!

 Mission: Space!

 We learned how to spell (and since we can read Hangul, pronounce as well) different country names:

The Seoul Children's Museum is a fun place for kids of all ages. My kids were nearly 8 years old all the way down to 26 months old. Each one had a fun filled day and wanted to stay longer, but mean ol' mommy said it was time to go after 4 hours.