Youngwol Y Park – South Korea’s Best Art Installation Museum

During the summer months in Korea, it can be quite difficult to find a place to stay cool other than museums, malls, movie theaters, and more. So we decided to take a trip outside of Seoul and explore the Youngwol Y Park museum also known as Jeolmeun Dal Y Park located in Gangwon-do near Gonju. If you haven’t been to Gonju, the area is very popular for camping, swimming in the rivers and creeks, hiking, and usually cooler than other parts of Korea. 

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Youngwol Y Park – South Korea’s Best Art Installation Museum

The reason I say this is the best art installation is that it truly is an art installation. There are so many places in Korea where people make and create things that transform a space, but nothing quite like this. If you can make the time and get out there, I don’t think you will be disappointed. 

Why you should visit Youngwol Y Park

There are a lot of reasons to visit this amazing art installation. As someone who went to school for Art, I found this place absolutely fascinating. I actually went to school and worked on creating my own Installations throughout college. The main reason I think you should visit this park is because of just the search fascination of these large red bamboos near the entrance. They are entrancing and quite beautiful to look at in the middle of the countryside. 

Secondly, I always want people to be exposed to art. It’s a way of learning, appreciating what is being created, and just another aspect to explore. It’s great for kids, it is a great way to enhance your imagination, and so much more. Art to me was always a form of therapy, which I think many people forget when they see art. It’s a way to express one’s self and help others understand that through the senses.

How to get to Youngwol Y Park

There are several ways you can get to Youngwol Y Park, but I would suggest visiting by car if you can. It’s the most convenient and easiest way. Traveling by public transportation is possible, but it does take time and may be more difficult, and takes longer to accomplish things. 

Address: 강원도 영월군 주천면 송학주천로 1467-9

How to get there by Bus from Seoul

From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, take the intercity bus to the Yeongwol Bus Terminal. The ride will take about 2 hours on average. Then from there, you will need to catch another bus for about 30-45 minutes from Yeongwol Bus Terminal to Juncheon Bus Terminal. From Juncheon Bus terminal it should only be a short 6-minute walk to Youngwol Y Park. To save time, you could take a taxi from Yeongwol Bus Terminal if you wanted. 

How to get there by Car

You can either choose to rent or drive your own car by following the Naver navigation to the address here: 강원도 영월군 주천면 송학주천로 1467-9. I highly suggest this option as it’s the easiest way to get there. The parking at this location is spacious and free which is perfect if you are nervous about finding where to park. 

What to expect at Youngwol Y Park

This park or Art Installation Museum comprises several different areas with different exhibits. However, there are 3-4 main areas that are easily seen from the exterior of the museum itself. 

How much are tickets to Youngwol Y Park

Tickets vary depending on age. When you receive a ticket, you often get a coupon voucher for 20% off an Americano. You will need a ticket to enter and scan through the gates.

Admission Fees

Adults (Over the Age of 12) – 15,000 won

Children (Ages 12 and Under) – 10,000 won

Online Adult Purchase (Over the Age of 12) – 12,000 won

Online Children Purchase (Ages 12 and Under) – 7,000 won

Yeongwol-Gun Residents – 7,500 won

Gangwon-do Residents – 10,000 won

Access inside the Spider Web (CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO COVID) – 5,000 won per person

Spider Web Operating Hours: Weekdays – 13:00, Weekends – 11:00, 13:00, 15:00

You can purchase your tickets online by visiting this website here.

Parking is free.

Youngwol Y Park Opening Hours

This park is open from 10:00 – 18:00 every day of the week. However, the museum may be closed during the national Korean holidays. 

What is Installation Art?

Installation art can be either temporary or permanent. They are often ways of transforming the space in a 3 dimensional way. Some are interactive meaning you can participate in them somehow and some are just to be viewed from a certain perspective and angle. Installation art can be within public and private places where sometimes public art and installation art can overlap in some areas. 

What to see at Youngwol Y Park

Red Bamboo (붉은대나무)

This is located right at the front entrance of the museum and is absolutely breathtaking. You can see the bamboo from the street and some of the art installations behind the museum as well. They are quite tall and very visible to the eye. There are some benches as well and you will notice that the bamboo is cut from steel pipes. The artist chose this red color to stand out against the green and blue scenery making it for a contracting color effect against nature. 

Jupiter

The massive scale of Jupiter makes viewers feel the overwhelming weight.  The heaviness of this gigantic space absorbs the light of the sun from the inside, making it cozy and giving people a strange feeling as if they had entered the stars. As you walk into the space, you will see lots of little specks of light coming from the outside, especially on a bright and sunny day. The space is quite dark and cool from the shade, but it’s like one of those spinning illuminated lamps. This is one of the first spaces you will see when entering the museum. 

Museum I

This is filled with 3 different spaces. 

Room 1 – A space filled with flowers and hanging teardrop mirrors. 

Room 2 – Hanging wooden sculpture meant to represent the infinite universe.

Room 3 – Regeneration, a space filled with abandoned pulleys and a scrapped car. 

Museum II

Pretty much a dedicated space to salt art created by Jeongyun Choi. Salt swords that hardened like ice and thread soft to contradict each other. 

Museum III

This space is filled with a variety of different aspects from different artists. I highly suggest you visit each space. One of my favorites was the room with flying mechanical birds and the one with the mirrored glass, which by the way looks way cooler on camera than in person. 

Road of Wind

I would say it’s interesting to see, but it’s just a pathway with red fencing but it is a tad long and mysterious. 

Museum IV

This museum is dedicated solely to beer for the most part. Including materials to make beer, store beer, beer steins, etc. There were also some other art spaces as well. 

Museum V

This is the space where you will find the metal tower from the remaining building materials. Like a giant metal tornado swirling into the sky. 

The Red Pavilion

This includes 3 different areas for the most part. 

Red Pavilion I – A giant red exterior square space filled with unique sculptures. Including the Mirror Lizard. When you look up into the mirror Lizards, the object is reflected like a mirror but it’s very confusing with lots of lines and ripples.

Red Pavilion II – This includes a hanging tire exhibit, blue deer, golden fish, and more. 

Spider Web – There is a giant spiderweb playspace located in the sky in the middle. 

Access inside the Spider Web (CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO COVID) – 5,000 won per person

Spider Web Operating Hours: Weekdays – 13:00, Weekends – 11:00, 13:00, 15:00

Cafe Dal

There is a cafe right at the entrance of the museum where you can enjoy desserts and some drinks. 

What to do near Youngwol Y Park

There are a lot of things to do in the area including camping, hiking, and more. I also suggest visiting the Sajin Cafe in Gonju which is a great location to get some beautiful photos, especially at sunset. This cafe requires you to buy a drink for entrance, but it’s ultimately just a beautiful cafe for some great photos. 

If you are willing to go, there is another museum about an hour or so away on the way back to Seoul called Museum San. 

I would suggest eating a lot in this area since there are tons of traditional Korean restaurants in the area and I find a lot of small towns have delicious authentic food in comparison to the big parts of Seoul. Not too far from Youngwol Y Park is also Danyang, which has a lot of things to do as well. If you haven’t heard about Danyang, be sure to read my post on things to do in Danyang. 

Where to stay near Youngwol Y Park

There aren’t many places to stay in this area, however, one place with high reviews to stay at and a pool is the Moon on the Cloud Pension. There is an outdoor pool, garden, and AC making it the best location to stay in the area. Book it here!

You can also look to stay in Danyang or Gonju which are bigger locations that have hotels or think about camping in nearby areas if you have a tent. 

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