Leeum Museum of Art

The Best Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea's Layered Capital | Condé Nast Traveler

"I regard Leeum Museum of Art as one of the foundational institutions that championed Korean art from the start and helped put Seoul on the global art map." - Katie Chang

"Opened in 2004, the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art seeks to bridge the past, present, and future of art. The sleek complex consists of two wings, one dedicated to traditional Korean works and the other to international contemporary art. The traditional wing is shaped like a reverse cone, with a spiraling walkway that winds through galleries of ancient paintings, calligraphy, and crafts. In stark contrast, the glass-and-steel contemporary wing was built without supporting posts, encouraging viewers to move freely among distinctive works by Basquiat, Olafur Eliasson, and Takashi Murakami. The experience continues outside on the parking lot deck, where there is a polished sculpture garden."

"An open museum where traditional art meets contemporary art."