"Never Thought I'd Spend a Whole Day Here, Shocked It's Free"... Why a Japanese YouTuber Was Amazed in Seoul

Constant Amazement at the National Museum of Korea
"This Is Free?"
"This Place Is a Must-Visit"

A video featuring a Japanese YouTuber family traveling in Korea, who visited the National Museum of Korea and could not hide their amazement, has become a hot topic online. The family, in particular, expressed their surprise at the fact that the museum is completely open to the public free of charge, exclaiming, "Is it really okay to see all of this for free?"

On July 17, various online communities began to buzz about a video recently posted by Japanese YouTuber Minori on her channel 'Minori Diary', which documents her trip to Korea with her mother and aunt.

A Japanese family visiting Korea is admiring the exhibition at the National Museum of Korea. YouTube channel 'Minori Diary'

In the video, the family visits the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and is repeatedly amazed as they explore a variety of exhibitions and media experience spaces. In particular, after encountering the overwhelming immersive content in the large-scale media art space at the 'Digital Immersive Video Hall', the three exclaimed, "Is it really okay to see this for free?" "I'd pay to see this," "Such incredible quality," "Amazing, it gave me goosebumps," "This is a must-visit," and "I feel like I could cry."

They also felt a sense of familiarity with artifacts reminiscent of those seen in Korean historical dramas such as 'Dae Jang Geum', and expressed satisfaction with facilities for foreign tourists, such as robots capable of providing guidance in Japanese. As they left the museum, they commented, "I could spend all day here," and added, "I never thought I'd spend a whole day at a museum. I'm so glad I was able to come."

A Japanese family visiting Korea is admiring the exhibition at the National Museum of Korea. YouTube channel 'Minori Diary'

This video has also resonated strongly with Korean viewers. One commenter wrote, "Whenever a foreign friend visits, the first place I take them is the National Museum of Korea," adding, "It offers a higher level of satisfaction than most tourist spots." Another said, "I'm so proud that admission is free. That's why I always end up buying at least one piece of merchandise," and evaluated, "The very fact that such facilities are open to the public free of charge shows that Korea is a cultural powerhouse." Additional comments included, "Accessibility and viewing convenience are truly excellent," and "It's a great place to visit with children or to explore slowly on your own."

Since relocating to Yongsan in 2005, the National Museum of Korea has steadily increased its annual number of visitors, recording 4,180,285 visitors in 2023. This ranked the museum 6th in the world and 1st in Asia. The figure represents a 22.5% increase compared to the previous year, and 2023 marks the first time the museum's annual visitors have surpassed 4 million. In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the National Museum of Korea offers a variety of cultural content free of charge throughout the year, including special exhibitions, a children's museum, cultural events, and media art.