Seoul Opens First Public Museum Dedicated to Photography   

• The Photography Seoul Museum of Art, or Photo SeMA, has officially opened in Chang-dong, Dobong District, offering a permanent public space dedicated to photography. Designed by Korean firm 1990uao and Austrian partner Jadric Architektur, the four-story building sits next to the Robot & AI Museum. Its dark gray exterior panels shift color with the sunlight, echoing photography’s relationship with light and time. Inside, visitors enter through dimly lit galleries painted in black and gray, reminiscent of a traditional darkroom, allowing each image to stand out. The museum’s opening exhibitions trace the evolution of photography in Korea. “The Radiance: Beginnings of Korean Art Photography” showcases early works by pioneers such as Jung Hae-chang, Lim Suk-je, and Park Young-sook. “Storage Story” presents contemporary artists’ reflections on the museum’s construction, the surrounding neighborhood, and the changing times. The museum also features a photobook cafe, a library, and weekend workshops aimed at teens. Programs offer tips for improving smartphone photography and printing cyanotypes with minimal equipment. Photo SeMA plans additional events, including artist talks and film screenings, during the summer. Admission is free for students, making it an accessible cultural stop for young visitors. With this launch, Seoul joins cities like London and New York in hosting a public institution devoted solely to photography. For those curious about how light becomes a memory, Photo SeMA is now open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May For The Teen Times teen/1751271110/1613367697