The National Museum of Korea has reached a significant milestone in preserving Korean cultural heritage with the opening of its new Conservation Science Center on Tuesday. The facility consolidates all conservation science functions under one roof, marking the 20th anniversary of the museum's relocation to Yongsan-gu in central Seoul.
The newly opened center spans an impressive total floor area of 9,196 square meters and features facilities equipped with cutting-edge technology, according to museum officials. Staff members are already at work in the facility, focusing on restoration projects including calligraphy works and other precious artifacts. The center represents a major advancement in the museum's ability to scientifically preserve and study Korea's cultural treasures.
"The opening of the Conservation Science Center marks both the achievement of 50 years of scientifically preserving and studying our cultural heritage and a new starting point for future generations," said You Hong-jun, the museum director, in an official statement. The director's remarks highlight the facility's dual significance as both a celebration of past achievements and a foundation for future conservation efforts.
To commemorate this milestone, the museum has launched a special exhibition titled "Conservation Science: A New Beginning, A Shared Future," which runs on the first floor through June 30, 2026. The exhibition provides visitors with insights into the museum's five-decade history of conservation science and showcases the evolution of preservation techniques and technologies.
The opening comes at a time of unprecedented success for the National Museum of Korea. The institution recently announced that its annual visitor count surpassed 5 million for the first time since its founding 80 years ago, placing it among the top five museums worldwide in terms of visitor numbers. You Hong-jun, whose 100 days in office coincided with the conservation center opening, attributed this record-breaking achievement to several key factors.
The museum director credited the success to the revitalization of the Children's Museum, the innovative use of media art to reinterpret artifacts, and the growing interest of young audiences. This surge in youth engagement has been particularly fueled by the success of "K-Pop Demon Hunters," which has attracted a new generation of museum visitors and helped bridge traditional cultural preservation with contemporary popular culture.
Looking ahead, the museum is preparing for significant changes in its visitor management approach. During a parliamentary audit on October 22, museum leadership agreed on the need to introduce admission fees. However, You emphasized on Tuesday that the implementation should not discourage people from visiting the museum, striking a balance between financial sustainability and public accessibility.
As a preliminary step toward implementing paid admission, the museum plans to introduce a comprehensive visitor management system that combines online reservation capabilities with on-site ticketing. This system aims to better monitor visitor flow and provide more accurate data about museum attendance patterns. Currently, museum officials acknowledge that "the current tracking system does not accurately show how many foreign visitors come to the museum," according to a museum official who spoke with The Korea Herald on Thursday.
The admission policy will undergo further detailed discussion at a public hearing hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism next year. This collaborative approach ensures that stakeholders and the public will have input on the final implementation of the new ticketing system, balancing the museum's operational needs with its mission to serve as an accessible cultural institution for all visitors.
