National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) Gwacheon

MMCA Gwacheon opened its doors to the public in 1986. The building is surrounded by a rich natural environment, creating harmony between natural and artificial beauty. Kim Tae-soo, the architect who designed MMCA Gwacheon, applied a traditional composition of the architectural space to the modern function of the building, such that the museum presents both tradition and modernity. The building reflects the traditional architectural style adapted from beacon mounds and fortresses. With its central ramp core resembling a Korean beacon mound, the building holds three floors in its east wing and two in the west. Across a total of eight galleries, MMCA Gwacheon focuses on providing excellent exhibitions to its visitors while playing a central role in the research of modern and contemporary Korean art. Galleries 1 and 2 hold thematically curated exhibitions, while other galleries offer exhibitions in different genres including architecture, crafts, photography, painting, and media art. The museum also houses a children’s Museum with a strong focus on education, as well as an art library for the organized collection and preservation of different materials related to art.