The National Aviation Museum of Korea With Kids: Fun With Flight
If you’re like me, always on the lookout for exciting yet educational outings for your little ones in Seoul, look no further. Today, we’re taking a thrilling journey through aviation history at the National Aviation Museum of Korea (국립항공박물관), fittingly located near Gimpo International Airport. Buckle up, because this adventure is going to be a soaring good time for both you and your kids.
This is one of the newest national museums in Korea just opened in 2020. We love visiting the national museums of Korea. They do a fantastic job with installations and exhibitions and on top of that, they’re free because everyone should have access to educational opportunities.
Get ready to learn about aviation history and flight in Korea:
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How To Get There
Address: 177 Haneul-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul (서울시 강서구 하늘길 177)
By Public Transportation: Take subway line 5, line 9, or the Airport Railroad out to Gimpo International Airport Station. From the 1st floor, there are signs that direct you from the airport along the outside corridor to the museum.
Basic Info
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
Admission: Free
Amenities: Nursing room, lockers, cafe, restaurant, convenience store
Website: National Aviation Museum of Korea
What To Know
The National Aviation Museum of Korea is like a candy store for aviation enthusiasts, both young and old. The first national museum in the field of aviation in Korea, it’s a treasure trove of history and artifacts showcasing the fascinating journey of flight abroad and here in Korea and there’s a great focus on Korean aviation.
The museum is divided into three halls: the Aviation History Hall, to learn about the rich history of aviation from the beginning and in to Korea, the Aviation Industry Hall, which offers a peek into the aviation industry’s current state, and the Aviation Future Hall, a glimpse into what’s next in aviation technology, complete with futuristic aircraft models. Just wait to see what taxis might look like in Korea in the future! Not just autonomous taxis, but flying transportation??
There are also some great experiences that kids can participate in. Some of the experiences may have fees or require some reservation so keep that in mind. They can take a ride on the Black Eagle, try their hand at pilot control, explore in-flight training, and even enjoy a children’s airport experience. It’s a hands-on adventure that’ll leave your little aviators with wide smiles.
The Design
The National Aviation Museum isn’t just a collection of planes and exhibits; it’s a work of art in itself. The museum’s design is inspired by science, freedom, beauty, and adventure. The “Air Turbine,” a symbol of mechanical aesthetics and science technology, serves as a striking landmark. The “Air Show” is a panoramic gallery that beautifully unfolds the history of Korean aviation. And the “Air Walk” is a three-dimensional walkway that leads you through various planes with a sense of wonder. Just take in your surroundings when you get there. They did a stunning job.
What To See
Aviation History
The first part of the museum takes us back in history and contains some of the information you might already know about like the Wright Brothers and their first flyer. As a Dayton native, where the Wright Brothers were from, I’m always keen to see their flyer. You can see their original 1905 Wright Flyer III at the Carillon Park in Dayton, Ohio and it is much larger than the replica on display here, but I’ll forgive them for that.
From Leonardo da Vinci’s imaginative Flying Machines to the Montgolfier brothers’ hot air balloons and George Cayley’s groundbreaking discoveries, it’s a whirlwind tour of humanity’s dreams to conquer the skies. Start creating the trajectory of flight in your and your child’s mind as you head to the next space where you learn a bit more about Korea’s specific history with flight.
Pilots and Independence Fighters in Korea
Did you know that the history of Korean aviation is deeply intertwined with the Korean independence fighters like An Chang-nam? An Chang-nam was Korea’s first pilot and proud independence fighter, who set the sky ablaze with his daring flights. This section of the museum shares a lot of hidden or undiscovered information on aviation in Korea that you might not know about. Learn about An’s remarkable story and even see a replica of his aircraft, the Kumgang.
The National Aviation Museum pays tribute to these heroes with bronze statues, including General Roh Baek-rin, Oh Rimha, Lee Yong-seon, Lee Cho, Han Jang-ho, Lee Yong-keun, and Jang Byeong-ho. And you follow that into a space full of various historical aircraft sitting on the ground and floating above you. You can see “Station Wagon,” Korea’s first civilian aircraft, the “F-51 (Mustang),” the first fighter aircraft in the history of the Republic of Korea Air Force, and the “F-16 (Sabre),” the first fighter jet of the Republic of Korea Air Force.
To get to the next floor, you walk up a winding path that takes you up and up and up so you can see all of the planes from various angles making this space even more fun and interesting for you and the kids you may have brought along with you.
The Aviation Industry in Korea
The second floor is a lot of statistics and diagrams and great for older kids at first glance, but there is also a fun “airport” space where you can guide kids through the steps they go through in an airport and explain what they should do and how to do it.
The Future of Flying
Korea has already introduced autonomous cars and buses and here you can see what they have in store for the future of flying in Korea. Just check out that Air Taxi above! You can learn more about the “TR-100,” the unmanned tilt rotor aircraft of vertical takeoff and landing, the “EAV-2,” the unmanned aircraft based on solar power, the “OPPAV,” the future-type personal aircraft allowing autonomous driving, the “ARIS-STORM (Dokdo Drone),” the unmanned aircraft for long distance flight & a variety of drones (life-saving, firefighting, crop duster, hydrogen battery, aerial shooting).
Watch Planes Take Flight
Keep going up and you’ll find an outdoor observatory where you can watch planes taking off from nearby Gimpo International Airport. Take a seat and enjoy the view if the weather is nice.
Strap in and prepare for a journey through the skies and across time at the National Aviation Museum of Korea. It’s a great family outing that combines education and entertainment in a fun way. Just about every kid I know enjoys airplanes and this is the place to go to teach them about the history and future of flight. Get ready to take flight with your kids and explore the marvels of aviation history in Seoul.
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