"The National Museum of Korea's current exhibition space was designed for 2 million annual visitors, but during peak season, more than 40,000 people enter daily. We must pursue construction of a second permanent exhibition hall."
Yoo Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, emphasized the urgent need for facility expansion to accommodate growing visitor numbers at the Kwanhun Forum held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd.
The National Museum of Korea surpassed 6.5 million visitors last year for the first time, joining the ranks of the world's top five museums. The current permanent exhibition halls comprise seven galleries and 39 rooms displaying approximately 9,800 artifacts, operating free of charge since May 2008.
"Expansion of facilities and organization is urgent due to the increase in visitors," Yoo said. "Following international conventions, introducing a deputy director system is pressing."
Yoo expressed a cautious stance on implementing admission fees. "We are not pursuing paid admission to prevent overcrowding," he explained. "The purpose of charging fees is not to generate revenue but to enhance visitor convenience—maintaining order through reservation systems and fast-track options."
Yoo also announced plans to establish a Customer Relationship Management system to manage and analyze visitor data, with a pilot integrated reservation and ticketing system launching in the first half of next year.
Regarding the "5,000 Years of Korean Art" exhibition he announced upon taking office, Yoo said, "We plan to organize an exhibition showcasing the essence of Korean art as the roots of K-culture in 2028 and hold a world tour."
He also suggested improvements to the museum's artwork acquisition process. "The procedures are complicated and accounting requirements are demanding, so we often miss acquiring artifacts we actually need," he said, indicating the need for greater director discretion.