International Friendship Exhibition Museum

Address: International Friendship Exhibition, Myohyangsan area, Hyangsan County, North Pyongan Province, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

The International Friendship Exhibition is a large display complex in the Myohyang Mountains that houses gifts presented to North Korean leaders from foreign governments, organisations and individuals. The complex is noted for its unusually extensive collection of diplomatic gifts and memorabilia.

Exhibition halls contain thousands of objects arranged as state displays, from small tokens to larger ceremonial items, and the complex is presented as a demonstration of international relations with North Korea. Visits are usually organised as part of approved tourist itineraries and guided tours.

The complex was developed by the North Korean state as a permanent repository for gifts to the country’s leaders and is operated as a state exhibition rather than a conventional museum. Public access is controlled and typically occurs under guide supervision.

The exhibition sits in the Myohyang Mountain area in North Pyongan province, inland from the west coast of the Korean Peninsula; it is reached from local transport hubs that serve the region.

• Collection scale: Exhibits consist of thousands of gift items presented to North Korean leaders; visitors typically see displays arranged in large, purpose-built halls.

The International Friendship Exhibition is at Myohyangsan (Hyangsan County) and is only accessible to foreign visitors as part of organized tours. Visitors normally travel there from Pyongyang on state-run tour buses arranged by licensed travel operators; road access is via local highways into the Myohyangsan visitor area, and the exhibition complexes are a short walk from the main parking/visitor facilities at Myohyangsan.

• Visit as part of an organized Myohyangsan day trip from Pyongyang and book an early time slot - visits are tightly scheduled by tour operators and mornings are less likely to coincide with multiple tour groups.
• Ask your DPRK guide in advance to include both of the Exhibition's large halls (the separate buildings holding gifts to Kim Il‑sung and Kim Jong‑il); many visitors see only the main rooms unless the guide takes them through both.
• Be prepared for strict supervision and photography rules inside the buildings - follow your guide's instructions about where photos are allowed and what areas are off‑limits.
• Combine the visit with nearby Myohyangsan attractions such as Pohyon Temple and local viewpoints to make the most of the trip into the mountain area rather than treating the Exhibition as a standalone stop.