"We will make it impossible for writers not to visit frequently. The foundation of K-culture is the humanities, and the foundation of the humanities is literature. We will make the National Museum of Korean Literature an institution that engages with citizens."
Lim Hun-young, director of the National Museum of Korean Literature, made these remarks on Nov. 15 at the "2026 Korean Literature Forum — National Museum of Korean Literature Mid- to Long-Term Development Plan Presentation" held at the Agora of Art Korea Lab in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The National Museum of Korean Literature is in the final stages of facility preparation and program development ahead of its official opening next year.
Located at 175 Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, the National Museum of Korean Literature spans a site area of 13,248 square meters and a total floor area of 14,993 square meters, with a structure of two underground floors and two above-ground floors. Exhibition halls, storage facilities, a library, seminar rooms, and experience rooms are under development. Construction of the museum building, which broke ground in May 2024, is scheduled to be completed in August, with the official opening planned for the first half of next year following final preparations.
"I hope people understand that the National Museum of Korean Literature is not a 'museum' but a 'literature museum,'" Lim said. "That is, one-third of our capabilities will be devoted to museum-style artifact exhibition and collection functions, one-third to research, and one-third to creating points of contact with the general public."
"After becoming director, when I met political and government figures, they would ask me, 'A literature museum — what does that do?' It made me very upset," Lim added. "From now on, the National Museum of Korean Literature will reach not only writers but also the general public." Lim took office as the third director of the National Museum of Korean Literature in January this year.
At the presentation, the National Museum of Korean Literature announced initiatives across various areas, including ▲ opening operations plans ▲ heritage collection, preservation, and management ▲ exhibition content development and operations ▲ literature popularization programs and research and exchange activities.
Various improvements concerning the National Museum of Korean Literature were raised at the event, with accessibility being the foremost concern. The museum is located on the western slope of Bukhansan Mountain, where high elevation and limited transportation networks are expected to inconvenience visitors. While various proposals such as shuttle buses have been suggested, none have been finalized. Insufficient cooperation from the Eunpyeong-gu Office was also cited as a complaint.
In addition, concerns were raised about the limited usability of spaces for exhibitions, research, and hands-on experiences. The criticism is that the building emphasizes external appearance, making it difficult to expand interior space. The National Museum of Korean Literature said, "We will do our best until the opening next year to ensure it becomes a National Museum of Korean Literature worthy of its name."
