Yu Hong-jun, director of the National Museum of Korea, said Monday the museum urgently needs to expand both its facilities and its organization as visitor numbers continue to climb.
Speaking at a Kwanhun Forum at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Yu said the museum should push ahead with building a second permanent exhibition hall.
The museum currently operates one permanent exhibition building and two special exhibition halls. The permanent galleries include seven sections and 39 rooms.
Yu said the museum, which drew 6.5 million visitors last year, can no longer meet growing demand at its current scale. He said the existing exhibition space was designed for an annual target of 2 million visitors, with a maximum daily capacity of 15,000, but more than 40,000 people enter during peak periods.
He also called for creating a deputy director post, saying it is urgently needed in line with international practice. Yu said related ministries, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, share that view and are in close talks.
On charging admission, Yu stressed the goal is not to raise revenue. He said the museum is not pursuing paid entry to prevent overcrowding, and “certainly not” to bolster finances, but to maintain order through measures such as reservations and fast-track entry.
Yu also said museums and art museums often miss chances to buy needed artifacts because purchasing procedures are complex and accounting rules are strict, suggesting directors should be given more discretion.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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