Charging for the National Museum of Korea, time for a 17-year policy shift

five Million Visitors: The Age of Moods and the Mooching Craze

the National Museum of Korea has surpassed five million annual visitors for the first time in 79 years since its opening in 1945. from January 1 to October 20 this year, more than 5.1 million visitors visited the Yongsan National Museum, a record high.

many factors contributed to this explosion in popularity. the sell-out of the museum's cultural products, Moods, the global success of K-content, including the Netflix animated K-pop show Demon Hunters, and the word-of-mouth buzz of its signature exhibit, the Sayu Room.

the space, known as Kukjungbak for short, has become more than just a museum, but a cultural phenomenon.

kukjungbak's global status, a top 5 museum

a look at the global ranking of museum attendance shows just how high the National Museum of Korea has risen. according to the British art publication Art News Paper, the Louvre in France topped the list with 8.74 million visitors in 2024, followed by the Vatican Museums with 6.83 million, the British Museum with 6.48 million, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art with 5.73 million.

the National Museum of Korea was ranked eighth in the world and first in Asia with 3.79 million visitors last year, and with 5 million visitors this year, it has effectively broken into the world's top five.

it is certainly a matter of pride for the 80th anniversary of the National Museum of Korea to be ranked alongside the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. but with this success comes new challenges.

at the heart of the paywall debate: why now?

the surge in attendance has brought a number of issues to the forefront. prior to May 2008, admission to the Gugak Permanent Exhibition Center was 2,000 won for adults and 1,000 won for youth, but it had been free for 17 years to promote national cultural enjoyment.

the problem is that the museum lacks the infrastructure to handle the surge in visitors. not only is there a shortage of parking spaces, but there is also an urgent need to improve viewing facilities and the environment. In fact, on September 30, Gugak raised parking fees for the first time in 20 years.

at a national audit by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee on October 22, National Assembly member Kim Seung-soo emphasized that even public institutions need to reflect some of the principle of beneficiary-payment to cope with the surging demand. yoo Hong-joon, director of the National Museum of Korea, also said that the museum is considering various ways and timing for charging for permanent exhibits.

the recent theft at the Louvre is also adding fuel to the charging debate. the incident, in which a criminal gang used a ladder truck to steal eight pieces of jewelry worth 140 billion won in seven minutes, highlighted the seriousness of museum security issues, as it was suggested that the root cause was a lack of security personnel due to budget cuts.

admission fees at the world's major museums

most of the world's major museums operate a fee-based system. the Louvre charges 22 euros, the Vatican Museums charges 20 euros, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art charges 30 dollars. some groups, such as youth and people with disabilities, get in for free, but the general public pays.

despite the small amount of money, people around the world willingly pay to visit these museums. they see it as a fair price to pay for a valuable cultural experience.

while the National Museum of Korea makes money from the sale of cultural products, including museums, it has higher costs for its core operations, including exhibitions, research, and artifact preservation, and is running at a deficit every year, excluding government subsidies. three years ago, two national treasures were put up for auction, but the museum didn't even bid due to a lack of funds.

the budget for purchasing artifacts is one-tenth that of major museums overseas, and there is an absolute shortage of academic and general management personnel. In this reality, the younger generation is asking for money.

be cautious about charging, preserve public value

nevertheless, there is a consensus that we need to be cautious about changing the free admission policy of museums, as other national museums across the country are bound to be affected by how Kukjeongbak proceeds with charging.

considering the original intention of the free admission policy, which is to contribute to the nation's cultural nostalgia by making its spaces and artifacts easily accessible to the public, it is also necessary to consider giving free benefits to certain age groups or occupations, such as youth and students, people with disabilities, and military personnel, or opening the museum for free on certain days.

it's important to realize that a significant portion of your visitors are there because it's free, so charging should be approached gradually and carefully. the key is to find a balance between the value of the museum as a public institution that belongs to the people and the need for profitability for sustainable operation.

the way forward for the National Museum of Korea

at the heart of the museum charging debate is the desire to provide a better cultural experience. if charging goes ahead, it must be accompanied by commensurate improvements to facilities and upgrades to exhibition content.

if museums are able to use the revenue from the fees to purchase artifacts, increase security, and hire specialized staff, they can offer a much richer cultural experience than they currently do.

it will also be able to expand beyond its current domestic audience to become a global cultural tourist attraction that attracts more international visitors. It is already the number one museum in Asia, thanks to the global popularity of K-content, so it's time to make the leap to the top five museums in the world.

frequently Asked Questions

Q1. When did the National Museum of Korea implement free admission?

A1. The National Museum of Korea began offering free admission to its permanent exhibitions in May 2008. Prior to that, the museum charged an admission fee of 2,000 won for adults and 1,000 won for youth, and has maintained the free policy for 17 years.

Q2. Why did the number of visitors exceed 5 million this year?

A2. The explosive popularity of the museum's cultural product Moods, the global success of K-content such as Netflix's K-pop Demon Hunters, and the word-of-mouth of the Sayu's Room exhibition have created a synergistic effect.

Q3. How much do major museums charge for admission?

A3. The Louvre charges 22 euros, the Vatican Museums charges 20 euros, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art charges 30 dollars. most world-class museums charge a fee.

Q4. What is the expected admission fee for the national hotel?

A4. The specific admission fee has not yet been decided. The museum is considering various ways and timing of the fee, and it is necessary to take a gradual and cautious approach.

Q5. Will anyone have to pay an admission fee if it becomes a fee?

A5. Even if it becomes a fee, it is likely that certain groups, such as young people, students, people with disabilities, and military personnel, will be given free access, or the park will be open for free on certain days.

closing remarks

the debate on charging for the National Museum of Korea is not just about whether to take money or not. It is about providing a better cultural experience in the age of 5 million visitors and becoming a world-class museum. it's about finding the best balance between public and profitability.

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