24 National Museums, Art Galleries, and Libraries Temporarily Closed

COVID-19 Impact: "Reopening Decision Based on Containment Trend"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 24th that it will temporarily close twenty-four national museums, art galleries, and libraries under its jurisdiction due to the elevation of the COVID-19 crisis alert to the 'serious' level.

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung (closed on the 10th), the National Daegu Museum (21st), and the National Sejong Library (22nd) have already been closed. On the 24th, nine national local museums (Buyeo, Gongju, Jinju, Cheongju, Gimhae, Jeju, Chuncheon, Naju, Iksan), two branches of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Gwacheon, Cheongju), and two branches of the National Library of Korea (Main Library, Children and Youth Library) will begin temporary closure.

From the 25th, the National Museum of Korea, three national local museums (Gyeongju, Gwangju, Jeonju), the National Folk Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, the National Hangeul Museum, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Seoul) will temporarily close. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will separately announce whether these institutions will reopen depending on the trend of COVID-19 spread subsiding.