After Over a Decade of Preparation, Korea's First Photography Museum Opens | Inside Photo SeMA | Release #532
©︎ Photo SeMA
The Seoul Museum of Photography (Photo SeMA) is a one-of-a-kind institution globally. After over a decade of preparation, it opened on May 29, 2025, as the world's first public museum dedicated exclusively to photography.
The cizucu editorial team visited the site to experience its space and exhibitions firsthand. This article explores the charm of Photo SeMA and the current state of photographic expression.
Background of the Opening and Key Highlights
The Seoul Museum of Photography (Photo SeMA) is Korea's first and only public museum dedicated to photography. Located in Chang-dong, Seoul, it spans two basement levels and four above-ground floors, with a total floor area of approximately 7,048㎡.
The museum features approximately 1,800㎡ of exhibition space, along with a photography education room, a darkroom, a photobook café, and a photo library. These facilities are designed to engage a wide audience with photography in various ways.
It is not merely a place for "viewing" but an open space where visitors can learn, create, and discuss photography. For those of us who take photos daily with smartphones, the museum offers a fresh perspective on photography as a medium.
Photobook Café
Photo Library
Inaugural Exhibitions Exploring Korean Photography History
One of the inaugural exhibitions, "The Radiance," showcases works from over 20,000 pieces collected by the Seoul Museum of Art over the past decade. It highlights early photographers such as Jung Hae-chang and Lim Seok-jae.
The exhibition delves into the development of Korean photography from the 1920s to the 1990s through historical materials and artworks.
Another exhibition, "Storage Story," features six contemporary artists, including Seo Dong-shin and Oh Joo-young, who explore the museum's construction process as a theme.
Using the exhibition space as a medium, the artists address abstract themes such as "memory," "classification," and "systems," expressed through a dialogue between photography and space.
Both exhibitions run until October 12, 2025. They offer a profound exploration of photography's past and present, as well as the stories told by the museum's space itself. Through these exhibitions, visitors can rediscover the depth and breadth of photographic expression.
Reflecting on the Present State of Photography
In an era where anyone can easily take photos with a smartphone, photography has evolved beyond mere "recording" to become a means of dialogue with oneself and society.
The Seoul Museum of Photography (Photo SeMA) gently challenges this perspective. It is a space where the history and future of photography intersect, offering a quiet moment for self-reflection.
We encourage you to experience this subtle transformation in person.
