HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP PARTNERS WITH EXPLORATORIUM FOR SEOUL SCIENCE MUSEUM

Hyundai Motor Group has announced a long-term partnership with San Francisco’s Exploratorium to build a new experiential science museum in Seoul, opening in 2032. The collaboration aims to foster curiosity-driven learning, blending hands-on inquiry with Hyundai’s human-centred vision, creating a hub for science education, creativity and cultural exchange in Asia.

Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled a landmark partnership with the Exploratorium, San Francisco’s globally renowned museum of science, art and human perception, to establish a new experiential science museum in Seoul. The collaboration reflects a shared belief that personal curiosity is the foundation of innovation and future progress.

The partnership will deliver cutting-edge, inquiry-based science programmes to the next generation, with Hyundai Motor Group committing to nurture creative and scientific talent through a dynamic ecosystem for learning. The new museum, set to open in 2032 within the Group’s Global Business Complex, is envisioned as a leading science institution in Asia.

Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, said: “Hyundai Motor Group is committed to addressing new challenges in advanced fields, including mobility and artificial intelligence, to contribute to humanity and future society. The experiential science museum we are creating with the Exploratorium will be a unique hub for science education, delivering experiences that nurture individual curiosity and a spirit of inquiry for a better future.”

Founded in 1969 by physicist Dr Frank Oppenheimer, the Exploratorium pioneered the ‘hands-on’ approach to science learning, influencing countless institutions worldwide. With over 650 interactive exhibits spanning science, art, psychology, socio-culture and climate change, it is widely regarded as one of the most innovative science museums of the modern era. The New York Times once praised it as “the most important science museum to have opened in the mid-20th century.”

Lindsay Bierman, Executive Director and CEO of the Exploratorium, commented: “The Exploratorium and Hyundai Motor Group share a commitment to cultivating the human capacities that no machine or technology can replicate: curiosity, discernment, and agency. What we’re co-creating in Korea will drive progress for humanity by advancing science learning, literacy, and innovation across Asia and the world.”

The Seoul museum will be built around four core principles: Curiosity, Creativity, Community and Collaboration. Visitors will be encouraged to actively participate, pose questions and discover answers through direct exploration and experimentation. Beyond its exhibits, the museum will serve as a vibrant science community platform, engaging local communities and making science accessible to all.

By combining the Exploratorium’s inquiry-based philosophy with Hyundai Motor Group’s human-centred vision, the project aims to redefine science education in Asia, offering unique experiences to residents and international visitors alike, and positioning Seoul as a global hub for scientific learning and cultural exchange.