Travel
The Seoul Museum of History holds exhibition titled “America in Seoul, the Korean Empire in Washington – Stories of Two Legations” through March 29
Haps Magazine Korea
January 28, 2026
(Photo by Seoul Museum of History/courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
A rare diplomatic artifact unseen for more than three decades is now on public display in Seoul.
The Seoul Museum of History has opened a special lobby exhibition titled “America in Seoul, the Korean Empire in Washington – Stories of Two Legations,” marking the 20th anniversary of the sister city partnership between Seoul and Washington, D.C..
Running from January 27 to March 29, the exhibition traces the shared diplomatic history of Korea and the United States through the legations established in the late 19th century.
Its centerpiece is the 1895 layout map of the U.S. Legation in Korea, unveiled to the public for the first time. The document shows how American diplomats operated from traditional Korean hanok buildings in Jeong-dong without altering their structure, offering rare evidence of early cultural respect in diplomatic practice.
The exhibition also explores the former Korean Empire legation in Washington, D.C., using photographs and archival materials to illustrate Korea’s early diplomatic efforts abroad and the later restoration of the site.
Admission is free, with extended evening hours on Fridays.