17 Years of Free Admission... National Museum of Korea Considers Reinstating Entrance Fees

Sharp Increase in Visitors Raises Operational and Management Burden
Phased Implementation Planned, Aiming for Paid Admission Next Year
Integrated Customer Management System and Public Hearings Announced
Budget Request of 500 Million Won Sub

The debate over introducing admission fees at the National Museum of Korea has resurfaced. With a recent sharp increase in the number of visitors, the burden of operation and management has grown, leading to calls for charging admission fees to secure stable funding and improve the visitor experience and exhibition quality.

Museum exterior. Courtesy of the National Museum of Korea

Full-scale Discussion on Charging Admission Fees... Integrated Customer Management System to Be Introduced

According to industry sources on November 3, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Museum of Korea plan to gradually implement measures such as building an integrated customer management system and holding public hearings, with the goal of introducing paid admission tickets early next year. The issue of collecting admission fees, which had been postponed due to public opinion, was raised during the recent National Assembly audit, and the authorities now appear determined to reach a definitive conclusion. As the first step toward paid admission, the National Museum of Korea plans to introduce a reservation-based integrated customer management system. Currently, ticket staff estimate visitors' nationality, age, and gender by sight, but the new system will allow for systematic management of visitor data. Initially, the reservation process on the website will require visitors to enter personal information, and later, this will be expanded to on-site kiosks.

An official from the National Museum of Korea stated, "We have requested a budget of 500 million won for this year," adding, "We will first implement the website reservation system, and once the budget is finalized, we will build the integrated system and put it into operation before the peak summer season in the first half of next year."

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is also reportedly in favor of introducing admission fees at the National Museum of Korea. During the National Assembly audit, it was pointed out that "the museum's annual operating budget exceeds 80 billion won, but its revenue is only 2.3 billion won," and that "free admission no longer fits the current circumstances." As a result, the political climate is shifting toward paid admission. Since many national cultural facilities, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, already charge admission, there is not expected to be significant public backlash. A ministry official said, "There has been active discussion recently about the need for paid admission," and added, "The policy direction is toward charging admission, and we plan to gather various opinions through public hearings."

Free Admission Since 2008... Most Overseas Museums Charge Admission

The National Museum of Korea was not always free of charge. When it first opened in 1945, there was an admission fee, but on May 1, 2008, it became free under a policy to expand cultural access. This measure was intended to allow citizens to freely view cultural assets owned by the state. During the Lee Myung-bak administration, permanent exhibitions at 11 national museums across the country became completely free, exempting the standard adult admission fee of about 2,000 won.

Most major museums overseas charge admission. The Louvre Museum in France charges 22 euros (about 35,730 won), the Mus?e d'Orsay charges 14 euros (about 23,000 won), the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States charges 30 dollars (about 43,000 won), and the Tokyo National Museum in Japan charges 1,000 yen (about 9,200 won). The British Museum in the United Kingdom is free, but operates on a voluntary donation basis, and students, seniors, and people with disabilities can enter free of charge.

Experts point out that Korea also needs a flexible approach, rather than a uniform free or paid policy, tailored to the circumstances. They also emphasize that it is important to provide sufficient explanation and build public consensus in the process of introducing admission fees.

Lee Eunhee, professor of consumer studies at Inha University, advised, "It is necessary to clearly present what improvements will be made through charging admission and what tangible benefits the public will experience," adding, "If the fees are introduced simply to maintain the status quo, it will not be convincing."

A ministry official explained, "Revenue can be used to improve services," and added, "Although there is no concrete plan yet, we are reviewing ways to enhance service quality."

Kwak Geumjoo, professor of psychology at Seoul National University, stated, "Admission fees mean more than just a charge," and suggested, "It is worth considering options such as giving people the choice to pay more, like voluntary donations, or introducing a named monthly membership system." She added, "It is important to approach admission fees not as an obligation, but as something people want to pay, as a right rather than a duty."

A ministry official commented, "Looking at overseas cases, it is true that the trend is toward charging admission, but there are many factors to consider, such as age groups, amounts, and methods," and added, "Nothing has been decided yet, and we are reviewing various options."