What can visitors see at the National Sports Museum of Korea?

Visitors can see about 70,000 items documenting Korean sporting history, including Suh Yun-bok’s 1947 Boston Marathon gold medal, Kim Yong-sik’s soccer shoes, Yang Jung-mo’s wrestling uniform, the 1988 Seoul Olympics torch and the opening-ceremony hoop.

Where is the National Sports Museum of Korea located and who built it?

The museum is located in a six-story building with two basement floors at Olympic Park in southern Seoul. It was built by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation.

Why was the National Sports Museum of Korea established?

The museum was established to exhibit Korean sporting history and systematically collect and preserve sports heritage from Korea and abroad. Chae Hwi-young said it should also help the public and future generations share the challenges and inspiration embodied in that heritage.

Korea's 1st nat'l sports museum opens in Seoul

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Summary

The National Sports Museum of Korea opened Thursday at Olympic Park in southern Seoul, tracing the country’s athletic history. Built by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the museum houses about 70,000 items. Its collection includes artifacts from the 1947 Boston Marathon, the 1988 Seoul Olympics and Korea’s Olympic history. About 150 people attended the opening ceremony.

Key Facts

The museum occupies a six-story building with two basement floors at Olympic Park.
The collection includes Suh Yun-bok’s 1947 Boston Marathon gold medal, soccer shoes belonging to Kim Yong-sik and Yang Jung-mo’s wrestling uniform.
Visitors can see the torch used at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and the hoop featured in the Games’ opening ceremony.
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Chae Hwi-young said the museum should preserve sporting heritage and give future generations a space to share the challenges and inspiration embodied in it.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 15, 2026 10:14 am KST

A hoop featured in the 1988 Seoul Olympics' opening ceremony is seen on display at the National Sports Museum of Korea in Seoul. Courtesy of National Sports Museum of Seoul

Korea opened its first national museum dedicated to sports Thursday, housing some 70,000 items that trace the country's athletic history from early marathon triumphs to the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

The National Sports Museum of Korea was built by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation to exhibit Korean sporting history and systematically collect and preserve sports heritage from home and abroad, according to the ministry.

Located in a six-story building with two basement floors at Olympic Park in southern Seoul, the museum houses the gold medal won by Korean marathoner Suh Yun-bok at the 1947 Boston Marathon, soccer shoes that belonged to Korean football pioneer Kim Yong-sik, and the wrestling uniform of Yang Jung-mo, South Korea's first Olympic gold medalist.

Visitors can also view the torch used at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and the hoop featured in the Games' opening ceremony.

About 150 people attended the museum's opening ceremony, including Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Chae Hwi-young, key figures from the sports and cultural scenes, and donors of sports heritage.

"The history of Korean sports is not only the records set by athletes, but also the memories of all citizens who cheered and celebrated those moments," Chae said in a statement.

He added that he hopes the museum will preserve the country's sporting heritage and become a space where the public and future generations can share the challenges and inspiration embodied within it.

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