Herb Medicine Museum: An Exhibition Guide

Here’s an exhibition guide at the Herb Medicine Museum located in Seoul K-Medi Center. It’s K-learning and healing time again!

Last Tuesday, I’ve visited Seoul K-Medi Center and join some programs like Foot Bath Salt Making and experience the Foot Bath and Bojewon Clinic. I’ve seen this building before but never had the chance to visit so I grabbed the opportunity this time to visit the Herb Medicine Museum.

What is Herb Medicine Museum all About?

Seoul K-Medi Center’s major facility is actually the Seoul Yangnyeongsi Herb Medicine Museum.  This museum is responsible for the conservation, development, and sharing of knowledge about traditional Korean medicine. The display items at the museum were carefully gathered and preserved so that visitors can have a real glimpse of the past and present of traditional Korean medicine.

It was opened to the public in 2006 and it was actually located on the ground of Bojewon (a medical institution for the poor during the Joseon era). In 2017, the museum moved to the second floor of Seoul K-Medi Center.  The museum is located at the Yangnyeong Market in the district of Dongdaemun, Seoul which is one of the popular oriental medicine markets in Korea.

Museum Exhibition Guide

There are six important exhibitions that you must see inside the museum. At first, I didn’t know about it but the information desk clerk gave me a guide which was really helpful to me. When visiting a museum, especially in Korea, you must have prepared two items. One is a museum guidebook and an audio guide. But I didn’t ask for the audio guide even though it was free because inside the museum there are QR codes that you can scan (provided in different languages) and then the information you need will appear on your phone screen. So here are the six important exhibitions that you must see.

Donguibogam Principles and Practice Eastern of Medicine

In this area, you’ll be able to see the Donguibogam, which is a Korean book about the Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine. It was compiled by the royal physician Heo Jun and was published during the Joseon time in 1613.

Deer Antler and Hard Deer Antler

Here you will learn about the animal and mineral ingredients. Deer antlers were registered as the greatest consumption in Korea when it comes to animal ingredients. While fossiled animals, sulfur, gold, and copper were known for mineral ingredients.

Medicinal Herb Village Story

Among all the things I see inside the museum, this one got my interest. It’s actually a miniature of the Medicinal Herb Village but it looks real and I really enjoyed watching it. I will make a separate post for this since it’s a nice story to know. I will just give you a little idea of what is all about.

In this area, you’ll be able to see how the people farm and harvest, hen the processing and distribution of the medicinal herbs during the old times.

Yakjeon Oriental Clinic

In Korea, most of the museum usually allow people to experience the reality of life during the ancient times like the Yakjeon Oriental Clinic which is present in the museum. This is an exhibition space that shows Korea’s traditional herb medicine room.

History of Seoul Yangnyeongsi

Of course, the history where it has begun should be on the list. Through the years, Seoul Yangnyeonsi is still successful and known for its best medicinal herbs not just in Korea but all over the world. The Korean Yangnyeongsi started in a market during the time of King Hyojong of the Joseon dynasty.

Sasang Constitution

The Sasang Constitution is a very interesting topic too since not all of us know about this. I’ve learned here that in traditional medical modeling people were categorized into four types of physical constitution. It was categorized into four types to differentiate the medicine and treatments under the constitution. I will also separately write about this since it’s an interesting topic that I really wanted to share.

Final Thoughts

If you are my reader during my old blog My Onni You, you’ll know that it’s not my first time visiting museums in Seoul. I have visited the Seoul Museum of History, Seoul Urban Life Museum, and the Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music. I also remember visiting the Chocolate Museum in Jeju in 2019 with my family. Learning new things is giving me a new perspective and it changes the way I see things that’s why I enjoy visiting museums here in Korea. Some people might say it’s kind of boring but actually, museums here are very interactive. It’s not just for adults but kids are also allowed.

Like here in Herb Medicine Museum, I’ve tried to take the quiz before I leave the museum. Did you know how many points I’ve got? I actually got 80 points! Yey! It was written there that when you got 80 points and above you’ll get a certificate but I didn’t receive it. They said there’s something wrong with the program but thanks to my friend who took a photo of me.

So if you will get a chance to visit Korea soon you should also try visiting museums. You’ll see how Korean people preserved their one-of-a-kind history.

Address: 26, Yangnyeongjungang-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
How to get here?: Jegidong Station (Seoul Line 1, exit 2) walk about 5 minutes
Other Amenities: Parking lot, wheelchairs, elevator, restroom, audio guide

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If ever you’ll visit the museum, what would you like to see the most? Share it below!

Xoxo, Hyejin 

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