The sculpture park was intentionally designed as an 'open-air museum' to make contemporary art accessible to the general public without traditional walls.
The museum structure was designed by architect Lim Jong-yeop, who emphasized the integration of art into the natural topography of the park.
Many of the sculptures were installed permanently in 1988, representing a diverse range of artistic styles from the late 20th century.
The surrounding Olympic Park contains ancient earthwork ruins from the Baekje Kingdom, placing the modern museum in a site of significant archaeological history.
SOMA, or the Seoul Olympic Museum of Art, functions as a dual-purpose space combining a dedicated contemporary art museum with an expansive outdoor sculpture park. Located within the Seoul Olympic Park, the site was established to commemorate the 1988 Summer Olympics. The museum architecture focuses on natural light and structural harmony with the surrounding landscape. The sculpture park houses over 200 large-scale installations created by international artists during the 1988 Seoul International Open-Air Sculpture Symposium. The museum interior hosts rotating exhibitions featuring contemporary Korean and international artists. The site is situated in the Songpa District, bridging the gap between historical heritage and modern artistic expression. The museum building itself is partially constructed into the hillside to reduce its visual impact on the park environment.
The wide-angle views of the sculpture park featuring the 'Thumb' sculpture by César Baldaccini.
Bring comfortable walking shoes to navigate the extensive sculpture park trails.
Allocate time to explore the Olympic Park's wider grounds, as the museum is integrated into a much larger recreational area.
Check the official website for current special exhibition rotations before visiting to prioritize which galleries to focus on.
Do not mistake the entire Olympic Park for the museum; the museum building is a specific venue within the park grounds.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet volume inside exhibition halls; do not touch the outdoor sculptures unless explicitly permitted by signage.
