Sports fans visiting Seoul have a new attraction to explore following the opening of the National Sports Museum of Korea, celebrating the country’s sporting heritage, Olympic achievements and memorable moments.
Located in Olympic Park in the Songpa district of South Korea’s capital, the museum officially opened on 15 October 2026, becoming the country’s first national museum dedicated to sport.
Established by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the museum aims to preserve Korea’s sporting history through exhibitions, educational programmes and interactive experiences.
What can visitors see at the National Sports Museum of Korea?
The new museum houses approximately 70,000 sports-related items, including historic medals, equipment, uniforms and Olympic memorabilia.
Among the collection’s highlights is the winner’s medal awarded to Suh Yun-bok at the 1947 Boston Marathon, alongside football boots belonging to Korean football pioneer Kim Yong-sik.
Visitors can also discover the competition uniform worn by Yang Jung-mo, South Korea’s first Olympic gold medallist, and memorabilia from the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, including the Olympic torch and the hoop featured during the opening ceremony.
The museum extends across six levels, with permanent exhibition galleries on the second and third floors, a special exhibition space and café on the first floor, and a rooftop garden on the fourth floor.
The existing Seoul Olympic Museum has also been renovated to incorporate a children’s museum, specialist sports library and educational spaces offering hands-on activities.
Celebrating South Korea’s sporting heritage
Designed to appeal to sports enthusiasts, families and international visitors, the museum offers opportunities to explore the country’s sporting achievements beyond traditional exhibitions.
Interactive activities include My Record Card and Iconic Moments Studio, while a special mission-based stamp tour was organised for approximately 200 participants on 17 October to celebrate the opening.
Chae Hwi-young, South Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highlighted the importance of preserving the country’s sporting memories.
“The history of Korean sports is defined not only by the records set by athletes, but also by the memories of all the people who cheered and celebrated those moments together.”
He added: “I hope the National Sports Museum of Korea will systematically preserve our precious sports heritage and establish itself as a space where the public and future generations can share the challenges and inspiration embodied in that heritage.”
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See more at sportsmuseum.kspo.or.kr
Image: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi-young at the opening ceremony of the National Sports Museum of Korea in Seoul’s Songpa-gu District (Credit: Ministry official Heo Man-jin/Korea.net)