5 Best Sights in Seoul, South Korea

When the 63 Square building was constructed in the 1980s, it was the tallest building in Asia. While it no longer claims that accolade (it now belongs to Dubai's Burj Khalifa), the gold-tinted, 63-story skyscraper is Seoul's seventh tallest. The former observation deck on the 60th floor has been converted into the 63 Art Gallery, which claims to be the world’s highest art space. The modern, rotating installations are made all the more striking by the floor-to-ceiling windows with birds’ eye views of the skyline, the Han River, and N Seoul Tower as a backdrop. In addition to the gallery, there’s also a cafe on the 60th floor, while the 57th through 59th floors are home to high-end restaurants.

This lovely contemporary art gallery is worth a stop if you're in Insa-dong and in the mood for perusing quirky, thought-provoking pieces from local and international artists. The space itself is bright and easy to navigate.

Nothing screams "modern art gallery" quite like the cube architecture of Kukje, which aims to share the work of contemporary Korean artists like Kwon Young-Woo and Ha Chong-Hyun with the world. The gallery regularly participates in Art Basel and other globally acclaimed art festivals. International artists such as Damien Hirst, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Anish Kapoor are also represented.

This small gallery located in the basement of the Textile Center building next to Samseong Station features an exhibition space shop, cafe, and education zone. They tend to display foreign artists with an emphasis on modern painters.

Located at the foot of Namsan mountain, Piknic is an art space that also houses a cafe and bar. Past exhibitions have highlighted immersive visual experiences and include works highlighting Ryuichi Sakamoto, Saul Leiter, and Goo Gi-jeong, to name a few. Exhibitions here are often accompanied by a film in the small in-house theater. Those with tickets to an exhibition can also check out the rooftop for mountain views, though the space’s other facilities are open to the public, regardless of paid entrance. For a splurge, you can combine your art trip with a lunch at renowned French fusion restaurant, Zero Complex, on the third floor.