As summer vacation begins amid alternating heat waves and monsoon rains, parents pondering where to take their children might consider 'cultural indoor activities.'
The National Museum of Korea will extend its hours from July 27 to August 17, opening at 9 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m. This adjustment, which adds an hour to the visiting time, aims to alleviate the burden on parents during the busy summer vacation and holiday season, especially after a 40% increase in visitors in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.
Children can also participate in hands-on programs. The National Museum of Korea is offering a children's educational program titled 'Let’s Eat, Kids!' in conjunction with its special exhibition 'Our Dining Table,' along with a special lecture called 'Words of Our Food.' This initiative allows children to learn that the dining table they encounter daily is a product of the wisdom and history accumulated over time in society.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) has prepared special summer programs linked to the exhibition 'Still Trying Days.' These include a lecture by artist Kim So-young titled 'The World of Children in the Museum' and a performance by the 'Heart Piano Trio,' composed of performers with developmental disabilities. There will also be a keyring-making experience.
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will present performances and exhibitions for children and family audiences at the Dream Forest Art Center in northern Seoul. Highlights include an interactive play 'Pinocchio Trial,' which addresses questions of the AI era from a child's perspective, and 'Choi Tae-ji's Ballet Treasure Box,' featuring commentary by artistic director Choi Tae-ji. The children's experience exhibition 'Finding Pasi' will also be showcased, providing artistic experiences where children can watch performances, think critically, and participate directly.
In 'Choi Tae-ji's Ballet Treasure Box,' children will not only enjoy classic ballets like 'Swan Lake' but also learn basic movements themselves. In the interactive play 'Pinocchio Trial,' children will serve as jurors, helping to shape the direction of the performance.
The Seoul Arts Center will host the '2026 Seoul Arts Center Children's Family Festival' at the Free Theater. The festival will feature a fabric object theater performance 'The Elephant Who Lost His Nose,' where everyday clothing and items transform into a new world, and a children's opera 'Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf,' where the audience can actively participate in the story.
Additionally, a children's academy performance program will be available, allowing children to express the story, characters, and music from the performance through art and movement, deepening their understanding of the show.
From July 23 to August 2, Assitej Korea will hold an international summer festival in the Daehakro area, showcasing ten domestic and international works suitable for children and youth. For infants aged 12 to 48 months, recommended performances include Italy's 'Tana: The Little Cave' and Poland's 'Mr. Satie: A World Made of Paper.' For children over 36 months, Austria's 'Flap Flap' and Ireland/UK's 'A Perfect Day,' as well as the Czech Republic's 'I Don't Want to Sleep!' are suggested.
For preschoolers and elementary school students aged 5 to 7, recommended works include 'Little One, Little One,' 'Gulliver's Travels,' 'Blink, Jump Under the Moonlight!' 'Lang Lang Star Tete-Tete,' and 'My Friend Calf.' All performance venues will feature an art playground in the lobby where children can freely engage in artistic experiences and participate in performance-related programs.
Major musicals such as the Broadway hit 'Hell's Kitchen,' the domestic premiere of 'Dear Evan Hansen,' and Disney's 'Frozen' will also open, welcoming summer vacation audiences.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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