If you’re planning a trip to Goseong in Gangwon-do,
here’s a place you should visit with kids: Hwajinpo Marine Museum.
Right next to Hwajinpo, the largest lagoon on the East Coast, it’s a family destination that’s both educational and fun.
What Makes Hwajinpo Marine Museum Special
Hwajinpo Marine Museum is known for its unique ship-shaped building, visible from far away. Opened in 1999, it has two themed sections, the Shell Exhibition Hall (floors 1 and 2) and the Fish Exhibition Hall (floors 2 and 3), so one visit covers everything about the sea.
Fish Exhibition Hall (Aquarium)
After touring floors 1 and 2, enter the aquarium through the third-floor cafe, and the kids’ favorite part opens up.
Key highlight: the undersea tunnel
- The dome-shaped tunnel through a 300-ton tank is the museum’s centerpiece.
- Watching fish glide overhead feels like walking on the sea floor.
- It’s also a photo spot where kids keep saying “Wow!”
Marine life on display
- About 3,000 creatures from 125 species live here.
- Native East Sea species such as pollock, flounder, halibut and rockfish
- Unusual creatures such as a giant octopus, scorpionfish and skate
- In the tropical corner, you can meet popular fish such as clownfish (Nemo) and blue tang.
Floors 1 and 2: Shell Exhibition Hall (Shell Museum)
Floors 1 and 2 display rare shells and crustaceans from around the world.
Collection size
- A vast collection of about 40,000 items from 1,500 species
- Korea’s largest museum dedicated to shells
Main exhibits
- Nautilus: a mysterious shell known as a living fossil
- Giant clam: bigger than an adult with arms outstretched
- Conchs, whelks, scallops and other shells in many shapes and colors
- Coral, starfish, sea urchins and other echinoderms
- Fossils from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic eras: traces of sea life from hundreds of millions of years ago
Special experiences
- Beautiful crafts made from shells
- Educational panels on the ecology and evolution of shellfish
- An interactive corner where you can hear the “sound” of shells
I loved how it goes beyond looking, sparking questions like “Where does this shell live?” and “Why does it look like this?”
Hidden bonus: Hwajinpo Observatory
After your visit, be sure to go up to the third-floor observatory (or rooftop). It rained during our visit, so we couldn’t go up.
Hwajinpo Marine Museum Details
Address: 412 Hwajinpo-gil, Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do
Opening hours
- Summer (March to October): 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry 5 p.m.)
- Winter (November to February): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.)
- Closed: open year-round (closures for maintenance are announced in advance)
Admission
- Adults: 5,000 won
- Teens and soldiers: 4,000 won
- Children (7 to 12): 3,000 won
- Age 6 and under: free
Parking
- A large free parking lot
- No parking worries even on weekends and in peak season
Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours for a thorough visit
- Great for taking it slow and taking photos with kids
Visiting Tips
How to plan your visit
1. Come early in the morning when it’s quieter.
2. Combine it with Hwajinpo Beach for a perfect route.
3. There aren’t many restaurants nearby, so avoid lunchtime or pack a lunch.
Nearby Places to Visit Around Hwajinpo
Half-day to full-day route
- Hwajinpo Marine Museum (1.5 hours)
- Hwajinpo Beach walk or swim (1 hour)
- Kim Il-sung’s Villa (30 minutes)
- DMZ Museum (1 hour)
Food recommendations
The Hwajinpo area has many restaurants serving cold raw fish soup, snow crab and flounder sashimi. A bowl of fresh East Sea mulhoe at a local favorite will melt away your travel fatigue.
I wholeheartedly recommend Hwajinpo Marine Museum to anyone planning a trip to Goseong.
For families with young children, it’s a top choice that’s both educational and fun: you can meet fish in the undersea tunnel, explore the world of rare shells and enjoy Hwajinpo’s scenery all in one trip.
Hwajinpo Marine Museum sparks kids’ curiosity about the sea and the value of nature, so why not head to Goseong on a weekend?
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in October 2025 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.