National Museum of Korea to introduce reservation system next year

▲ The National Museum of Korea attends the press conference to introduce a new reservation system as early as the first half of 2026, held in Seoul on Oct. 28, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- The National Museum of Korea plans to introduce a reservation system as early as the first half of next year to better manage its growing number of visitors, which exceeded 5 million this year.

At a press conference held Tuesday at the museum’s education center in Yongsan, Seoul, museum director Yoo Hong-jun said, “Before discussing paid admission, we will first establish an integrated visitor management system through reservations.”

Since May 2008, the museum’s permanent exhibitions have been free of charge, while special exhibitions, often co-hosted with international museums or private institutions, remain paid, with ticket prices ranging from 10,000 to 19,000 won.

▲ The National Museum of Korea attends the press conference to introduce a new reservation system as early as the first half of 2026, held in Seoul on Oct. 28, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Yoo stressed that the plan is not intended to reduce visitor numbers. “We have no intention of limiting access,” he said. “Even after introducing paid admission, our goal is to maintain around 5 million annual visitors.”

As of Oct. 20, the museum had recorded 5.1 million visitors this year, with its 13 regional branches bringing the total to 11.5 million nationwide.

Yoo said that accurate data collection on visitor demographics is necessary before moving forward with any fee policy. “Currently, we can’t distinguish visitors by age or nationality,” he explained. “A reservation system would make it easier for younger audiences to access online, while we are also considering on-site kiosks for those less familiar with digital systems.”

Implementation details, including budgeting, are still under review. The Education, Culture and Exchange Division said it has requested 500 million won in next year’s budget to build the system, aiming to launch it before the summer peak season if approved.

Yoo added that broader discussions with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism are needed before deciding on paid admission. “We must carefully consider whether and how to charge admission, as well as potential impacts on national and private museums,” he said.

The director, marking his 100th day in office, also discussed efforts to enhance visitor experience, including solving parking and café shortages and managing visitor flow more efficiently.

He shared upcoming international exhibition plans, including a traveling showcase of the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee’s collection in Washington, Chicago and London, and a Silla gold crown exhibition in France next year. “We’re also planning a global tour that will present the core of 5,000 years of Korean art,” he said.

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