South Korea's national museums are extending their closure days as surging visitor numbers strain facilities and staff.
According to relevant authorities on the 16th, the National Museum of Korea under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to add four additional closure days annually on the first Mondays of March, June, September, and December. The museum has previously closed only three days per year—New Year's Day and the first days of Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays. Total annual closure days will now increase to seven.
This year, the museum will adjust its schedule in March before closing on June 1, September 7, and December 7.
"Maintaining a system with virtually no closures has placed excessive strain on personnel and facilities, creating safety management issues," the National Museum of Korea said.
The measure addresses congestion and facility burden from rapidly growing attendance. The museum recorded 6.5 million visitors in 2025, approximately 1.7 times the 3.78 million visitors in 2024—the highest since relocating to its current Yongsan location in 2005.
Last summer, single-day attendance reached 44,000 visitors. Under fire safety regulations, the museum's maximum daily capacity is 15,000.
Starting March 16, operating hours will shift to 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., moving opening and closing times 30 minutes earlier from the current 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule. The change aims to accommodate morning visitor demand while maintaining total daily hours.
The National Palace Museum of Korea at Gyeongbokgung, which showcases Joseon dynasty royal culture under the Korea Heritage Service, will begin monthly closures starting in March.
"Starting March, we plan regular closures on the last Monday of each month," the National Palace Museum said. "We will also consolidate Wednesday evening hours to the last Wednesday of each month." Saturday evening hours will continue unchanged.
The National Palace Museum had also previously closed only on New Year's Day and major holidays. On January 23, a fire broke out in the basement mechanical room, damaging some equipment and sending smoke into the nearby open storage area, forcing a one-day temporary closure.
The National Museum of Korea building dates to 2005, while the National Palace Museum building was originally constructed in 1979. Extended closures and revised hours at Seoul's major national museums are expected to influence regional museums as well.