Seoul museum opens Rubik’s Cube-inspired playground for babies, toddlers

Seoul Kids Cafe at Hanseong Baekje Museum / Courtsy of Hanseong Baekje Museum

What if a museum visit began not with an exhibit, but with a giant cube built for crawling, climbing and discovery?

Seoul's Hanseong Baekje Museum officially opened an infant-focused children's play space Tuesday, unveiling what city officials describe as Korea's only cube-themed kids cafe designed exclusively for babies and toddlers.

The facility, known as the Seoul Kids Cafe at Hanseong Baekje Museum, opens after about five months of pilot operations that began in December and is intended to expand cultural and educational opportunities for young children and their families.

Unlike traditional museum spaces geared toward preschool and elementary school students, the new venue was designed specifically around the developmental needs of infants.

At the center of the play area is a series of structures inspired by the Rubik's Cube, the iconic puzzle invented in Hungary.

The installation encourages children to push, stack, climb and move through cubes of different sizes, creating an environment where physical activity and exploration become part of the learning experience.

Museum officials said the design supports the development of balance, spatial awareness and both fine and gross motor skills while also encouraging creativity, problem-solving abilities and cooperation.

The project was developed with participation from experts at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) in Hungary.

Balazs Puspok, vice rector of MOME, and professor Daniel Lakos contributed to the design and planning of the space, incorporating curved structures, distinctive colors and movement paths tailored to infant safety and development.

The museum said it plans to connect the new facility with educational programs offered by the Seoul Baekje Children's Museum, creating a broader family-oriented cultural environment that combines play and learning.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.