The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is located on the west side of the royal court of Jungmyeongjeon Hall. It is the youngest building in Deoksugung Palace which construction was completed in 1938. At that time, it was named “Yi Royal Family Museum of Art” and was the first building built to be used as a modern national museum of art.

The former name “Yi Royal Family Museum of Art” was used to demean the Korean imperial family during the Japanese colonial era. During this time, an organization called the Office of the Yi Dynasty was established as an affiliated organization of the Governor-General of Korea. It was responsible for managing all affairs of the imperial family, such as collecting items and treasures from all over the country and exhibiting them at Changgyeonggung Palace and Deoksugung Palace.

The Yi Royal Family Museum of Art held exhibitions in the east and west wings of Seokjojeon Hall. The east wing featured Japanese displays, while the west wing featured artifacts from the Korean Peninsula dating back to before the Joseon Dynasty. The exhibition was set up by the Japanese government to demonstrate to the world that Korea was an underdeveloped country.

Seokjojeon Hall served as a meeting place for the US-Soviet Joint Commission following the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule until its conversion into a national museum in 1955. In 1973, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which was located in Gyeongbokgung Palace, was relocated to Deoksugung Palace and is now called the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

To visit the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, you need to purchase an admission ticket from Deoksugung Palace. Please remember to purchase the ticket beforehand.