South Korea's Trick Eye Museum Makes Deception Fun
Atlas Obscura on Slate is a blog about the world's hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook, Tumblr, or follow us on Twitter @atlasobscura.
If you've ever posed for a photo in which you're pushing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, tweaking the tip of an Egyptian pyramid, or letting the Statue of Liberty's torch pick your nose, the Trick Eye Museum is for you.
Located in the hopping Hangdae district of Seoul, the museum presents a series of trompe l'oeil paintings and optically illusive sculptures, all of which invite you to become part of the action. You can pose holding the head of John the Baptist, grimace as you get faux-stabbed by a medieval jouster, and even put your hands on an oar to give a bare-butted man a beating as he lies tied to a wooden cross in a gravel yard. Kids love it.
There are also less-violent options, such as posing in front of giant angel wings, pretending to lift a hefty barbell, and helping a sushi chef lift a massive piece of salmon nigiri.
The bronze sculpture of a boy defecating on the floor is a mystery, but attracts many a giggling amateur photographer.
Other quirky museums:
View 357-1 Seogyo-dong (20 Hongik-ro 3-gil) in a larger map