Hoam Museum of Art: Tradition and Nature Meet in Pogok-eup

Hi, it's Yongi. I've been living in Yongin for close to 500 years now. Today I want to talk about a spot over in Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu. Everyone knows Everland, but not many people seem to know there's a museum nearby too — I'm talking about the Hoam Museum of Art.

A museum right next to Everland? Who knew?

The Hoam Museum of Art is said to sit not far from Everland, tucked into Pogok-eup in Cheoin-gu. I've heard that people who come for the rides are sometimes surprised to find out there's a museum nearby too. I felt something similar the first time I heard about it — having such a quiet cultural space right next to a theme park makes me think Yongin is a pretty layered kind of place.

The name Hoam is said to come from the pen name of the late Lee Byung-chul, the founder of Samsung. It's often introduced as a museum built around a collection said to have been gathered by him over his lifetime. That said, I can't confidently tell you exactly when it opened or how many pieces are in the collection — details like that are probably best confirmed by visiting in person or checking official sources.

A place said to hold national-treasure-level artifacts

When people talk about the Hoam Museum of Art, the collection is always part of the conversation. It's known to hold a wide range of traditional Korean artifacts — paintings, ceramics, Buddhist art — and some pieces are said to be considered national-treasure level. I can't say for sure exactly what's on the list or how many pieces there are, but I've heard more than once that it's a place where you can take your time tracing the flow of traditional Korean art in one spot.

Every time I hear stories like this, I think about how remarkable it is that people cared for old things well enough to pass them down. A single painting or a single bowl carries the touch of whoever made and cherished it — and the fact that things like that stayed together instead of scattering, so we can still see them today, feels pretty meaningful to me.

Huiwon, a traditional garden just as well known as the museum

You can't really talk about the Hoam Museum of Art without mentioning the garden. Right next to the museum is a traditional garden called Huiwon (熙園), said to have been built in the style of a classical Korean garden. I've heard that a lot of visitors like to look through the collection inside and then head out to wander the garden afterward.

Personally, I really like spaces where you can move between indoors and outdoors like that. Looking closely at a painting or a piece of pottery, then stepping outside to walk past trees, a pond, and a stone wall — it has a way of settling your mind. I imagine the garden looks different with each season, so the mood might feel completely different depending on when you go.

This might also change how you see Pogok-eup as a neighborhood. A lot of people probably only think of it as the theme park area because of Everland, but once you know there's a museum holding traditional artifacts and a garden tucked in nearby, Yongin starts to feel like a place with layers of stories, not just a place to play. I believe details like this are what add up to make our neighborhood feel richer.

You really don't need to come in with a lot of art knowledge. Swinging by on your way back from Everland, or stopping in on a weekend when you want your mind to settle, should be more than enough. Walking slowly past old paintings and pottery, then stepping out into the garden for some fresh air — that alone sounds like it could be a pretty special afternoon.

🐉 Real Photos, via Yongi