[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Escape the monsoons with these indoor rainy day getaways

Monsoon season in Korea may discourage outdoor plans, but there are indoor attractions to explore, such as Gwacheon National Science Museum, DDP Showroom, and Museum 1.

The digital display at Museum 1 in Haeundae District, Busan, offers an immersive experience away from the rain. [MUSEUM 1]

Monsoon season kicked off this week, and it's been raining cats and dogs. On some days, the weather takes a turn, and the sky stays clear — only to return with a downpour, discouraging some vacation planners from outlining their summer getaways.

But heavy rainfall shouldn't ruin the fun of exploring cool spots on the weekend. Here are four of the Korea JoongAng Daily's recommended places to visit if you want to avoid the rain — or enjoy it.

Gwacheon National Science Museum국립과천과학관

Gwacheon National Science Museum in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi [GWACHEON NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM]

Staying smooth and dry indoors is most people's priority when rain hits hard. Gwacheon National Science Museum in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, is a good hideout for those seeking a cozy escape and an intellectually enriching experience. Spanning two spacious floors and an outdoor exhibition space, the vast venue tackles multiple science-related themes that cater to the interests of both children and adults. It is equipped with the Future Imagination SF Hall, Nature History Hall, a space that covers astronomy, advanced technology halls and more themed spaces, as well as the main Science Exploration Hall.

The Science Exploration Hall at Gwacheon National Science Museum has an experimental zone where visitors can experience what an earthquake feels like. [GWACHEON NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM]

Each section offers an interactive experience. The main exhibits in the primary Science Exploration Hall feature experimental zones focused on light, air, water and earth. Here, you can feel an earthquake, tornado and typhoon and learn about their causes. At the Astronomical Observatory, you can try out telescopes to view space. The SF Hall may provide the most intriguing experiences, with creatively named areas featuring humans and aliens as well as a “future career world” that interprets what tomorrow's lifestyles will look like. Don't miss out on the 3-D Cyber Zone as well.

@scipia.gnsm110 Sanghabeol-ro, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi(경기도 과천시 상하벌로 110)Operating hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Last admission at 4:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays, Jan. 1, Lunar New Year and Chuseok) Admission fees: All-day exhibitions: 4,000 won ($2.90) for adults 20 to 64 years oldPlanetarium, Astronomical Observatory, Space Analog: 2,000 won for adults Phone number: 02-3677-1500Website: https://www.sciencecenter.go.kr/scipia/?lang=en

DDP SHOWROOMDDP 쇼룸

The entrance to the first floor of the DDP SHOWROOM in Jung District, central Seoul [JOONGANG ILBO]

Rainy or not, for those who love flaunting their outfits and capturing fashionista moments on camera, DDP Showroom is a must-visit. It's large, packed with fashion items and offers free studios where you can take photos and film lookbooks.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Jung District, central Seoul, is already a landmark known to both tourists and locals. However, the DDP Showroom might surprise tourists. Powered by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Business Agency (SBA), the 4000-square-meter (1-acre) DDP Showroom opened on May 27 as a cultural complex and a hub for fashion brands. The showroom is accessible on the first and second floors of DDP's Design Lab, one of the buildings in the plaza.

DDP SHOWROOM in Jung District, central Seoul, displays fashion items at its sample store zone. [JOONGANG ILBO]

The first floor consists of three zones — a stage, a multishop and a pop-up zone. These are open throughout the day, and anyone can visit without a reservation. The second floor, however, is more fashion-focused, with sample stores, studios and creator rooms, available only on weekdays and requiring a reservation, which can be made for free through Naver Map. The studio reservation even suggests a free rental option for filming equipment.

Outside of its showrooms, the DDP runs simultaneous shows and events across the entire venue, so try heading to the plaza on a rainy day.

@ddpshowroom_official281 Eulji-ro, Jung District, central Seoul (서울 중구 을지로 281 디자인랩)Operating hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Partially closed on weekends) Phone number: 02-2135-5453Website: https://ddp.or.kr/?menuno=340

Museum 1뮤지엄 원

Museum 1 in Haeundae District, Busan, is a contemporary art museum that displays moving works with around 80 million lights. [MUSEUM 1]

The weather forecast highlighted a sunny day, leading you to plan a trip to Busan to visit Haeundae Beach. If the day turns out to be a drizzly one, you can always head to Museum 1, a contemporary media art museum in Haeundae District, Busan. The museum spans 2,314 square meters (24,908 square feet), occupying two floors. The exhibitions take place entirely indoors, providing a perfect shelter from the monsoon rains.

The building itself is a fresh piece of modern art, open since March 2022. Modern art pieces and innovative installations welcome visitors, stimulating the eyes and ears with around 80 million lights and interesting sound effects. “SIGNS of LOSS,” running until Aug. 31, is an immersive art exhibition full of colorful moving pieces meant to allude introspective questions of the modern era. Until the last day of the exhibition, tourists from Seoul or Gyeonggi can get a special discount if they show their ID cards or documents to prove their residency. The initial ticket price of 18,000 won is attainable at 12,000 won for those who successfully do so.

@museum1_official20, Centum seo-ro, Haeundae District, Busan(부산 해운대구 센텀서로 20)Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Last admission at one hour before closing time)Admission fee: 18,000 won for adults, 15,000 won for adolescents (ages 14 to 19) Phone number: 051-731-3302Website: https://kunst1.co.kr/museumone

Juknokwon죽녹원

The Juknokwon bamboo forest in Damyang County, South Jeolla, is known for its greenery and unique view of bamboo trees. [JUKNOKWON]

Juknokwon, or the Juknokwon bamboo forest, is a specialty of Damyang County, South Jeolla. If you aren't too bothered by your shoulders getting wet from the intermittent downpour, grab an umbrella and head to the forest for a peaceful and soothing promenade.

Open since March 2005, the forest boasts nearly two decades of history, attracting around a million visitors every year. Juknokwon covers approximately 310,238 square meters of land and has eight trails, two hanok (Korean-style building) cafes and activity zones for cultural entertainment. Damyang County assigned different themes and special names to each trail, such as “Trail of unchanging love” and “Trail of contemplation.” Trails take from three to 20 minutes, so completing all eight is not demanding at all. When it rains, the forest turns even greener and provides a unique experience as well as health benefits thanks to its high anion emissions. Juknokwon is a great summer vacation spot in the heat wave as well, since the temperature in the forest is four to seven degrees lower than it is in urban areas.

If you are mesmerized by the forest view and want to stay overnight, you can reserve a spot in a hanok through the official website or over the phone.

119 Jungnogwon-ro Damyang-eup, Damyang County, South Jeolla(전라남도 담양군 담양읍 죽녹원로 119)Operating hours: March to October, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., November to February, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Last admission hours for each period are 6 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.)Admission fee: 3,000 won for adults Phone number: 061-380-2680, 2690Website: https://www.juknokwon.go.kr/sitemap?domainId=DOM_0000024

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]