Visited the National Palace Museum of Korea under the Cultural Heritage Administration in March 2023
Museum explains "omission of records" amid accusations of "abuse of authority"
After previously sparking controversy for failing to leave any records following her visit to Jongmyo Shrine, it has now been revealed that Kim Keonhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, also visited the storage room of the National Palace Museum of Korea, where the royal heritage of the Joseon Dynasty is preserved.
According to Yonhap News on the 27th, the Cultural Heritage Administration stated in documents submitted to the office of Assemblywoman Im Okyung, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, that "Kim Keonhee did visit the storage room of the National Palace Museum of Korea on March 2, 2023, but there are no (related) records of the visit." At the time, Kim entered through the main entrance of the museum, toured the Science and Culture Room on the first basement floor, and then moved to the storage area, where she reportedly spent about 10 minutes in the second storage room.
As of 2024, the National Palace Museum of Korea operates a total of 19 storage rooms, including 16 underground storage rooms. Among them, the second storage room houses more than 2,100 items, including the "Annals of the Joseon Dynasty," which is both a National Treasure and a UNESCO Memory of the World, as well as the "Uigwe," which is classified as a Treasure and also a UNESCO Memory of the World. This space is particularly sensitive, as it stores valuable ancient books, records, and calligraphic and artistic works, requiring special care and attention.
According to the museum's "Collection Management Regulations," entry into the storage rooms must be done in pairs or more, and an access log must be maintained to record necessary details. The museum requires that the entry time, reason for entry, and the full names of all entrants be handwritten in the logbook.
However, in the storage access logs for February and March 2023, submitted by the Cultural Heritage Administration and the museum, there is no record of Kim's visit on March 2. The only entries for that day are three separate records: 9:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.; 1:20 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The museum listed reasons such as "storage of newly acquired artifacts" and "artifact viewing," and only the names of three museum staff members appear in the log. In response, the museum explained, "The storage room is adjacent to the main building where the exhibition halls are located, and staff were working inside the storage area that day for artifact organization, which is why these records were disclosed." The museum further stated, "Kim's entry was accompanied by the storage room manager at the time, but it appears to have been omitted from the records," while not providing a specific explanation for the omission.
Assemblywoman Im raised the possibility that the omission was "intentional," stating, "According to reports, Kim Keonhee requested to see the 'Uigwe' during her visit to the storage room." She also pointed out, "Allowing access to the museum's storage room, which is off-limits to the general public, and personally viewing important national heritage such as the 'Uigwe' and the 'Annals of the Joseon Dynasty' clearly constitutes 'abuse of authority.'"
Meanwhile, Kim was previously embroiled in controversy over the private use of national heritage after it was revealed that she held a tea meeting with outsiders at Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in September last year. It was also belatedly revealed that on September 12, 2023, she visited Gyeongbokgung Palace and entered the Geunjeongjeon Hall, which is off-limits to the public, and sat on the royal throne.
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