National Museum of Korea Reports Record Attendance Driven by Cultural Wave and New Exhibitions

The National Museum of Korea's primary location in Seoul's Yongsan District experienced a significant increase in attendance during the previous year, with total visitors rising to 6.5 million from 3.8 million. Among these, international guests numbered 230,000, marking the first instance that annual foreign attendance has exceeded 200,000. A museum representative attributed this growth partly to heightened global and domestic fascination with Korean popular culture, known as Hallyu, which has persisted for years. The institution also enhanced its offerings by revamping permanent galleries and organizing special displays that provided novel perspectives on Korean historical objects and worldwide traditions. Programming last year included exhibitions connected to Korea's 80th anniversary of independence from Japanese occupation, featuring displays about naval commander Yi Sun-sin and Olympic champion Son Kee-chung. Additionally, the museum marked two decades since moving to its current site with a presentation of early Joseon period artworks. Other initiatives involved hosting a traveling exhibition from France's Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac focusing on Pacific Islander heritage and establishing a new permanent space dedicated to Islamic cultures. The museum also improved visitor experience through enhanced accessibility features and increased use of digital tools.