Seoul Museum of Craft Art Library: A Bukchon Hidden Gem

One of my absolute

favorite spots in Bukchon,

is none other than the

library at the Seoul Museum of Craft Art :)

Located right in front of Anguk Station Exit 1,

the Seoul Museum of Craft Art

boasts fantastic exhibitions,

but I've even visited

the library alone

because the first-floor library is so cozy and well-equipped.

Seoul Museum of Craft Art Library

Operating hours are

Tuesday to Saturday,

from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Books cannot be checked out;

they are only available

for in-house reading.

Upon entering through the first-floor entrance,

you'll find the Craft Library

immediately to your left.

It's a place everyone can freely use, free of charge.

There are lockers available at the entrance,

making it convenient to store your belongings.

Upon entering the library,

you'll find an information desk on the left,

and in the center, a book curation related to the current craft exhibition.

On the right, there's a large desk,

a perfect space for piling up multiple books

or getting some work done.

My absolute favorite spot

is this window sofa seat!

While it might not be ideal for extended reading

since there's no table,

the atmosphere is so lovely and cozy

that if it's ever empty,

I always find myself settling in here.

As it's the Seoul Museum of Craft Art's library,

a unique advantage is that books are categorized

differently from a general library, with a focus on crafts and art,

and are finely subdivided.

They're even categorized by craft techniques

like wood, bamboo, and lacquer :)

That's not to say there aren't general books, though;

you'll also find books on history, culture, and humanities,

as well as periodicals (magazines),

making it a great place for a casual browse.

This window seat is also

one of the most popular spots!

Each seat has its own lighting,

and you can adjust the blinds,

creating such a wonderful atmosphere

for quietly sitting and reading, isn't it?

So, while it's not huge in scale,

the ambiance is simply wonderful,

and it's generally not too crowded,

which is why I often come to the Seoul Museum of Craft Art Library...

I love spending my afternoons leisurely.

Seoul Museum of Craft Art Gift Shop

If you come out of the 1st-floor library and head to the opposite side,

you'll find the

Seoul Museum of Craft Art Gift Shop,

nestled under a cool, high-ceilinged space.

Similar to the Seoul Museum of Craft Art Library,

it's not huge, but it's filled with

craft artists' works and souvenirs,

making it a delightful place to browse!

The lineup changes slightly

every time I visit,

so if you find something you like,

it might be a limited edition –

I recommend you grab it right away!

This notebook also had such

elegant, subtle decorations that looked incredibly luxurious

and beautiful for its price.

Yuriji Craft Award Series Notebook

Price ~$4

Beyond that, there were also

eco-bags and tableware made from

traditional materials like ramie (moshi),

There were also exclusive goods for the recently popular Geum Ghi-sook Special Donation Exhibition,

and I thought this delicate flow bag

was just so pretty.

(But it's a white fabric bag,

so I didn't feel confident carrying it around, so I passed...)

Price ~$22

I always find myself coveting the tableware

among craft pieces, and isn't this

mother-of-pearl round table mat

just gorgeous?

It looks like something I'd love to buy as a housewarming gift,

but since it's a mother-of-pearl piece,

the price was a bit high.

​

Price ~$14

The Seoul Museum of Craft Art is actually

quite a bit larger than you might expect.

It's made up of **three buildings**, so first-time visitors

might not even realize there's a library or gift shop.

If you have some free time before or after exploring

the Seoul Museum of Craft Art exhibitions,

I highly recommend checking out the

library and gift shop on the 1st floor

:)

+ Review of the Seoul Museum of Craft Art Exhibition!

Seoul Museum of Craft Art Free Exhibition! Review of Geum Ghi-sook Special Donation Exhibition & Permanent Exhibitionblog.naver.com

Seoul Museum of Craft Art Library, Gift Shop

Wellness Archive Index

Two spaces too good to miss after seeing the exhibition

Before the trip (Expectation): ★★★★

During the trip (Experience): ★★★★

After the trip (Memory): ★★★★

*What is the Wellness Archive Index?