Hyundai Partners with Exploratorium to Build Science Museum in Seoul

New interactive facility aims to foster future talent in mobility, AI, and robotics through hands-on learning.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:52am by

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A highly textured, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric shapes, concentric circles, and precise organic spirals in earthy tones, conceptually representing the complex interplay of scientific forces and concepts that will shape the future of technology.A conceptual visualization of the interactive, experiential science museum that Hyundai and the Exploratorium plan to build in Seoul, designed to cultivate the next generation of scientific innovators.San Francisco Today

Hyundai Motor Group is collaborating with San Francisco's Exploratorium to open an experiential science museum at its Global Business Complex in Samseong-dong, Seoul. Targeted for completion in 2032, the facility is designed to cultivate future talent in fields like mobility, AI, and robotics through interactive, hands-on scientific education for Korean youth.

Why it matters

This partnership represents a strategic shift for Hyundai, moving beyond just producing hardware to investing in the intellectual infrastructure that will shape the next generation of technological innovation. By integrating a world-class science center into its corporate headquarters, Hyundai aims to address the 'innovation gap' caused by a deficit in foundational scientific curiosity.

The details

The Exploratorium was chosen as a partner due to its pioneering 'learning by doing' interactive exhibition model, which transforms visitors into active investigators rather than passive observers. Implementing this large-scale, experiential project within the dense Gangnam-gu district will require meticulous coordination to integrate the museum seamlessly with the surrounding urban infrastructure.

  • Hyundai acquired the former Korea Electric Power Corporation site in Samseong-dong over a decade ago.
  • The new science museum is targeted for completion in 2032.

The players

Hyundai Motor Group

A major South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer that is partnering to build the new science museum.

Exploratorium

A renowned interactive science museum based in San Francisco that is providing the educational methodology and expertise for the new facility in Seoul.

Chairman Chung Eui-sun

The chairman of Hyundai Motor Group who emphasized the importance of fostering curiosity and a spirit of inquiry through experiential science education.

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What they’re saying

“Experiential science museums will foster individual curiosity and a spirit of inquiry, and play an important role as a venue for differentiated science education for a better future.”

— Chairman Chung Eui-sun

What’s next

Hyundai and the Exploratorium will need to navigate complex cross-border intellectual property agreements and operational contracts to ensure the successful transfer of educational methodology across jurisdictions.

The takeaway

By investing in an interactive science museum that encourages experimentation and discovery, Hyundai is positioning itself as a steward of scientific progress, shifting from a pure hardware manufacturer to a cultivator of the curious minds that will drive the next century of technological innovation.