Trick Eye Museum in Hongdae

Taking pictures of yourself and your friends in front of stuff is a national obsession in Korea. Therefore, it’s not surprising that in Hongdae, there is a whole museum where the whole point is to get a bunch of pictures of yourself and your friends looking silly. This is the Trick Eye Museum in Hongdae.

The Trick Eye Museum is full of cool trompe l’oeil paintings (that’s just French for ‘deceive the eye’) that look like they’re coming out of the frame. With the right angles and positioning, you can get pictures where you look like you’re in or interacting with the paintings.

If this sounds awesome to you but you don’t have a camera, don’t despair. The Trick Eye Museum offers digital camera rental – for a mere 10,000 Won (or so) you can use a camera to your heart’s content and they will email you the pictures.

Also, if you’re alone or you want to get in all the members of your group, just look for a staff member in the galleries. They walk around and help people by taking their pictures.

If this looks amazing but you’re not in or near Seoul, there may be hope yet! There are two other Trick Eye Museums in Korea, one in Busan and one on Jeju. The Jeju one is totally Greek mythology themed (while only part of the Seoul one is) so I might have to go there if I get back to Jeju.

Details

• Location: Take Hongik University exit 9. Walk straight then turn left at the first intersection. Walk until you see a Starbucks on the left. Cross the large street you are on and go down the small alley you see (next to HolikaHolika). You will see the Trick Eye Museum on your right shortly.
• Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM (last ticket sale is at 8 PM).
• Admission: 13,000 Won – but worth every cent.
• Other Info: Go with a friend – it will be more fun! Make sure you’ve got plenty of space on that memory card and that you’ve charged your camera! You will want it.