The National Museum of Korea is set to expand its facilities and organizational structure, riding on the momentum of 6.5 million visitors last year. Officials say the nation's flagship museum needs to grow both in scale and substance.
"Expanding facilities and organization is urgent given the surge in visitors," Yoo Hong-june, director of the National Museum of Korea, said at the Kwanhun Forum held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. "We will pursue construction of a separate second permanent exhibition hall."
The museum, which relocated to Yongsan in 2005, currently operates permanent exhibition galleries and two special exhibition halls within a single building.
"We are in discussions with government ministries about using land to be returned from the nearby Yongsan U.S. military base, or if that falls through, adjusting the building coverage ratio on the existing site to construct a second building or annex of approximately 6,000 pyeong—half the size of the current building," Yoo said.
He also outlined plans for organizational expansion. "Introducing a deputy director position is urgent, in line with international practice," Yoo said. With the museum director currently holding vice minister-level rank, the deputy director would likely be at director-general level (Grade 1). The museum has already added one director-level (Grade 2) position since Yoo took office.
Regarding expanded authority for the director, Yoo addressed artwork acquisitions: "The procedures are complicated and accounting processes are demanding, so we often miss opportunities to purchase artifacts we actually need." He added, "Artwork purchases should proceed at the director's discretion and responsibility, and that should become part of the director's legacy."
According to the museum, current exhibition space was designed for 2 million annual visitors, yet attendance reached 6.5 million last year. The facility's calculated maximum daily capacity is 15,000, but during peak summer season, daily visitors have exceeded 40,000.
Yoo took a cautious stance on his proposal to introduce admission fees. While he initially expected paid admission could be implemented immediately after taking office last year, progress has since slowed. "We are not pursuing paid admission to prevent overcrowding or secure museum finances," Yoo said. "Ultimately, it's about ensuring visitor convenience through reservation systems and fast-track options." Regarding timing and method, he was circumspect, saying only that "a decision will be made after system development this year and a pilot program next year."
As a scholar who has long studied art history, Yoo offered criticism of Korea's academic system. "One reason humanities are socially undervalued today is that books that meaningfully engage the public are not being produced sufficiently," he said.
He attributed this to insufficient will and capability among scholars including university professors, as well as universities' evaluation systems that focus exclusively on academic papers. His own mega-bestseller "My Cultural Heritage Exploration Journal" received only 50 points—half the credit for a single paper—or zero points in faculty performance evaluations, he noted.
"Korea lacks a 'book award' for popular humanities works, something like America's Pulitzer Prize," Yoo said. "If such an award were established here, the humanities would develop significantly." He also described himself as "inherently a museum advocate."
Regarding the recently revived controversy over a Hangeul signboard for Gwanghwamun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Yoo endorsed the proposal to display a Hangeul plaque alongside the existing Chinese character version as "a good plan." He said, "There's no rule that a building must have only one signboard. Pyongyang's Daedongmun Gate has three signboards, and one building in China has signboards covering all seven floors. I think the current proposal—displaying both Chinese and Hangeul signboards together—is a good plan."