Why I Always Check What Amorepacific Museum of Art Is Exhibiting
Last Updated on August 26, 2026
Whenever I’m in Yongsan and have even a sliver of free time, I check what’s on at the Amorepacific Museum of Art (아모레퍼시픽미술관). Sometimes it’s ancient Korean ceramics. Other times it’s contemporary installations that stop you mid-step. Either way, the exhibitions are consistently thoughtful, beautifully curated, and never feel rushed or flashy.
What I love most is how quietly confident this museum is. It doesn’t shout for attention, but it always rewards curiosity. The curators seem to enjoy playing with light as well, which I always find intriguing. If you’re even remotely interested in art, design, architecture, or Korean culture beyond palaces and markets, this is art museum in Seoul is worth keeping on your radar.
The Amorepacific Museum of Art is definitely a spot to keep an eye on for future exhibitions in Seoul:
- Basic Info
- What Makes APMA Different
- The Building Is Part of the Experience
- The Exhibitions Are Striking
- FAQ
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Basic Info
Address: 100 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 한강대로 100)
How to get there: Head to Sinyongsan Station on Line 4 and through exit 1 or 2. The museum is directly connected underground making it a great trip for rainy, cold, or extremely hot days.
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm
Admission: Varies by exhibition
Website: https://apma.amorepacific.com/
What Makes APMA Different
The museum began in 1979 as the Pacific Museum, built around the private collection of Amorepacific founder Suh Sung Whan. It took its current name, the Amorepacific Museum of Art, or APMA, in 2009. From the beginning, the goal was simple but ambitious: to create a space where beauty could be discovered in everyday life.
Today, APMA balances Korean ancient art with Korean and international contemporary works. Exhibitions rotate every few months, and that’s exactly why I keep checking back. You never quite know what you’ll get, but you know it will be well done.
The Building Is Part of the Experience
The museum sits inside Amorepacific’s headquarters in Yongsan, and honestly, even if you never step into an exhibition, the building alone is worth the trip. Anyone searching for the best architectural wonders in Seoul will be led to this building at some point.
The Amorepacific headquarters was designed by David Chipperfield Architects, a Berlin-based studio behind projects like the Neues Museum reconstruction in Berlin, and Chipperfield went on to win the Pritzker Prize, architecture’s highest honor, in 2023. Construction on the Amorepacific headquarters started in 2014 and finished in 2017, on a site the company has occupied since 1956, right next to what used to be a US military zone. That is to say, that when you for for the art, you will also likely appreciate the surrounding just as much.
The building is a single, massive white cube, about 216,000 square meters across roughly 30 floors, wrapped in a fine aluminum-fin facade that filters daylight and shades the interior. Three large rectangular openings cut through the mass, each holding a garden, so the “cube” never feels sealed off. Chipperfield has said the goal was for the building to feel less like a corporate tower and more like a piece of public space the city could actually use, which tracks, because the ground floor is open to the public and the public, like me, loves it.
Inside, the soaring atrium connects the first through third floors, creating a sense of openness. Natural light, clean lines, and quiet corners make this a place where you actually want to linger. Here is where you’ll find cafes, books, and the entrance to the art museum, which sits back underground again.
Pro Tip: Plan to eat here. Head down the escalator in the atrium and you’ll find around 8 different restaurants. I’ve eaten at the Chinese restaurant down there and it was great, I’ve been back to the Thai place three times now, and there’s a salad spot that I’ve appreciated on more than one occasion. It’s a solid lunch stop regardless of what’s showing upstairs.
Amorepacific also has the unique AMORE YONGSAN flagship store that offers a selection of personalized and experiences to make customized K-beauty products. It’s up on the 2nd floor, the same floor where the innisfree cafe is located. Most of the experiences require advanced reservation, so make sure you look into this before you go if you want to partake, and you really should.
The Exhibitions Are Striking
The exhibitions at Amorepacific Museum of Art focus on one topic or one artist at a time so get ready to dive in fully. That is to say, if you don’t dig something, you probably won’t dig the entire exhibition. On the other hand, if you’re interested, you’ll love piece after piece. This museum quietly grows on you, but make sure you know what’s installed before you go.
The last exhibition I saw here was Mark Bradford’s, his large-scale collage-style works, built up out of layered, scraped, and torn paper and posters, are exactly the kind of thing that photographs terribly on a phone and needs to be seen in person to actually land. It’s a good example of what I mean about diving in fully: his show wasn’t for casual grazing, it was for the visitor that was prepared to slow down in front of each piece.
The museum isn’t huge, but each exhibition is really showcased very thoughtfully. If you’re interested in the art scene in Seoul, Amorepacific might just surprise you.
FAQ
Is the Amorepacific Museum of Art free?
No, admission is charged and priced by exhibition. Check what exhibition is on and how much it costs as the price can vary.
How do I get to Amorepacific Museum of Art by subway?
Take Line 4 to Sinyongsan Station and exit through Exit 1 or 2. The museum connects directly underground, you won’t need to go outside, though I’d recommend it anyway for the exterior architecture.
Who designed the Amorepacific headquarters building?
David Chipperfield Architects, the Berlin studio led by Pritzker Prize winner David Chipperfield. It was completed in 2017.
How long should I plan for a visit?
If you’re just going for the museum, plan an hour to an hour and a half, however I recommend staying and enjoying the Amorepacific building, stopping into the innisfree cafe or the OSULLOC cafe, or having lunch at one of the various fantastic spots downstairs.
Is it kid-friendly?
Yes, generally, however you’ll want to look into what the exhibition is. I have taken my daughter on numerous occasions though.
Is APMA worth visiting if I’m not really “into” art?
APMA is one of the more expensive art museums in Seoul, depending on the exhibition, but in my experience. If you’re not really that “into” art, you might be better off going to one of the many free museums in Seoul instead so you don’t feel put out by the fee.
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