MMCA Director Youn Bum-mo resigns amid political pressure allegations and audit findings
Youn Bum-mo has resigned from his position as director of South Korea's National MMCA Museums, a role he held since 2019 and was reappointed to in 2022. His second term was scheduled to conclude in early 2025. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced his departure and will open applications for his successor in May. An audit conducted by the ministry last year identified 16 allegations of misconduct, including problematic acquisition procedures at auction and failures to address workplace harassment. Media speculation suggests political pressure following South Korea's March 2022 presidential election contributed to his resignation. Youn, a former art history professor at Dongguk University in Seoul, specializes in the Minjung art movement, which arose after the suppressed pro-democracy protests of 1980. Known for a liberal perspective, he curated exhibitions some considered overtly political. His reappointment just one month before the 2022 election drew criticism over alleged connections to former President Moon Jae-in's administration.
Key facts
- Youn Bum-mo resigned as director of South Korea's National MMCA Museums
- His second term was set to expire in early 2025
- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will issue a public call for applications in May
- An audit by the ministry found 16 allegations of illegal or inappropriate practices
- Allegations included questionable acquisition processes at auction
- The museum failed to address office harassment and bullying
- Youn is a former professor of art history at Seoul's Dongguk University
- Youn specializes in the Minjung art movement that emerged after 1980 pro-democracy demonstrations
- Youn was reappointed for a second term in 2022, one month before the presidential election
- Korean media speculated his resignation was due to political pressure after the March 2022 election
- Youn is known for his liberal-leaning stance and staging politically charged exhibitions
- His alleged connections with former President Moon Jae-in's administration drew criticism
Entities
Artists
- Youn Bum-mo
- Moon Jae-in
Institutions
- National MMCA Museums
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
- Dongguk University
Locations
- South Korea
- Seoul