Over 400 Museum and Art Gallery Professionals Gather for New Year Meeting

"2026 National Museum and Art Gallery New Year Gathering" Held
Kim Eun-kyung, Director of Onyang Folk Museum, and One Other Receive Presidential Citation
Kim Mi-kyung, Head of the National Museum Foundation, and Two Others Receive Prime Minister's Citation

An event was held to reflect on the achievements of museums and art galleries over the past year and to share visions for the new year. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted the "2026 National Museum and Art Gallery New Year Gathering," where it engaged with field professionals and recognized individuals and outstanding institutions that contributed to the development of museums and art galleries, encouraging the efforts of those in the cultural sector.

On January 12, Minister Choi Hwi-young of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism attended the "2026 National Museum and Art Gallery New Year Gathering" at the National Museum of Korea, exchanging New Year's greetings with over 400 museum and art gallery professionals from across the country.

During this New Year gathering, government awards were presented to those who contributed to the advancement of museums and art galleries over the past year. Kim Eun-kyung, Director of the Onyang Folk Museum, and Park Chun-soon, Director of the Haedun Museum, received Presidential Citations. The Prime Minister's Citation was awarded to Kim Mi-kyung, Head of Product Business Division at the National Museum Foundation, who led the "MU:DS" phenomenon, as well as to Park Sun-joo, Director of the Young Eun Museum of Contemporary Art, and Kim Jonghoe, Head of Sonagi Village at the Hwang Soonwon Literature Village. In addition, 15 individuals, including Ko Mi-kyung, Head of Exhibition Planning at the National Incheon Maritime Museum, were recognized for their contributions to the development of museums and art galleries, while 8 individuals, including Lee Ji-eun, Curator at the Yangsan Municipal Museum, received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award.

In addition, awards were presented to outstanding institutions in the "2025 Museum and Art Gallery Week" program. Shema Museum of Art and Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award, while the Korea Popular Music Museum and the Ansan Fishing Village Folk Museum were honored with the President's Award from the Korean Committee of the International Council of Museums. The Savina Museum of Contemporary Art and the Gimpo Tea Ceremony Museum received the President's Award from the Korean Museum Association.

Minister Choi Hwi-young stated, "In 2025, the number of visitors to the National Museum of Korea exceeded 6.5 million, confirming the public's passionate love for museums and art galleries." He added, "However, it is a reality that many regional museums and art galleries continue to face difficulties." He continued, "As 2026 is the Year of the Red Horse, I will actively communicate with the field so that it becomes a year of dynamic growth with strong vitality and passion. We will foster museums and art galleries as future core growth industries that create economic value through culture, making them the cornerstone for Korea to become a cultural powerhouse."