1988 Seoul Olympics Museum

The 1988 Seoul Olympics Museum was built to keep the memorabilia from the first Olympics held in the country [photo: 1988 Seoul Olympics Stadium]

1988 Seoul Olympics Museum

The Seoul Olympics Museum was built during the 1988 Olympics held in Seoul, which in various forms, promoted and made Korea more known to the world. Since then, the Museum has undergone several improvements making it more worth-visiting.

Seoul's Olympic Museum has been totally upgraded as an interactive museum not just to reveal highlights of the 1988 Olympics but likewise the delights of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.

A history of the games now includes descriptions of each of the sports and display screens of medals, memorabilia, and character figurines from the Olympics held all over the world.

There are interactive games where grownups and kids alike can try their hand at kicking a ball or shooting a target, some through VR headsets.

The 1988 Seoul Olympics Museum was established to commemorate the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and to promote the Olympic spirit.

seoul-olympic-museum-stadium-night-lights

Seoul Olympics Stadium

Found within Olympic Park, the Museum is a multipurpose space that is a combination of a park and sports center. Visitors can participate in activities and education programs.

The Museum provides various types of info connecting to sports, culture, organization, and the Olympics.

Five main sections are comprising the Museum. Each themed area is dedicated to various elements of the Seoul Olympics...

Place of Harmony,
Place of Prosperity,
Place of Hope,
Place of Glory, and
Place of Peace.

There is likewise a cafeteria on the second flooring and a museum purchase keepsakes. Admission to the Seoul Olympic Museum is free of charge.

1988 Seoul Olympics background

Torch

The 1988 Seoul Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were a significant moment in sports history.

Held from 17 September to 2 October 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, these Games marked the first summer Olympic event in South Korea and the second in Asia, following Tokyo in 1964.

A total of 159 nations were represented by 8,391 athletes, with these Olympics boasting the largest number of participating nations during the Cold War era.

As the host country, South Korea performed admirably, ranking fourth overall and winning 12 gold medals and a total of 33 medals across various events.

The extensive media coverage also contributed to the global attention on these Games, with a staggering 11,331 media representatives, including 4,978 written press and 6,353 broadcasters, covering the event worldwide.

Democratization Significance

These Olympics also carried historical significance as they coincided with the nearing end of the Cold War era.

The Soviet Union's dominance in the medal count, winning 55 gold medals and 132 total medals, added to the historical context of the Games.

Interestingly, the 1988 Seoul Olympics saw fewer boycotts compared to previous editions. Notably, North Korea and five socialist countries, including Cuba, boycotted the event.

However, the large-scale boycotts that marred the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics were avoided.

Moreover, the 1988 Seoul Games were closely associated with South Korea's democratization process, contributing to the country's peaceful transition from military rule to multi-partyism and electoral democracy.

The impact of these Games extended beyond sports, leaving a lasting legacy for South Korea and fostering international cooperation.

Useful Information

Please, see below the useful details if you decide to explore and enjoy the items and facilities of the Museum.

Phone: +82-2-410-1354~5
Website: http://88olympic.kspo.or.kr/homepage/english
Hours of Operation: 10 AM to 6 PM. The last entry time is 5:30 PM, which is only 30 minutes before the business hour ends.

Holidays: Similar to most public and private establishments in South Korea, the Museum is closed on Mondays, January 1 (New Year), Lunar New Year (Seollal), and Harvest Holiday (Chuseok).

Please, note that if a holiday falls on Monday, the Museum will be closed on Tuesday instead of the typical business day.

Getting to Seoul Olympic Museum

Since the Museum is located in Seoul, you can quickly get there by accessing Seoul's main transportation facilities.

Address: 05540 Olympic Park, 424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Subway: Mongchontoseong Station (Seoul Subway Line 8)
Take Line 8 and get off at Mongchontoseong Station, then go to Exit 1. From there, it will take around five minutes to get there.

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