National Heritage Administration Takes Follow-up Action After Kim Keonhee Privilege Controversy
Abolishes "Post-Event Reporting" Exception Clause
"No One Should Receive Such Privileges"
From now on, even events attended by the president will require the submission of official documents and formal approval when using palaces or royal tombs. With the removal of the exception clauses that previously allowed such use for reasons of "security" or "urgency," institutional measures have been strengthened to prevent the private misuse of national heritage sites by those in power.
The Palace and Royal Tombs Heritage Division of the National Heritage Administration announced on January 21 that it has issued an administrative notice of a partial amendment to the "Regulations on Viewing Palaces and Royal Tombs." The main focus is to ensure procedural transparency. The previous regulations included an exception clause stating that "in the case of government events requiring urgency or when public disclosure is not possible, post-event reporting is allowed." This clause had been criticized for providing grounds for VIP (presidential) events to be held without official records or prior review, raising concerns about potential abuse.
In response, the National Heritage Administration has decisively removed this clause, and now, even events hosted by government agencies must follow the same venue approval procedures as the general public, with no exceptions. In particular, the submission of official documents has been made mandatory, ensuring that records are kept of who is using national heritage sites, when, and for what purpose. This is intended to completely block any "secret events."
This institutional reform stems from reflection on a series of preferential treatment controversies surrounding Kim Keonhee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. During last year's National Assembly audit, it was revealed that in September 2024, Kim held a private tea meeting with outsiders at Jongmyo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and made a private visit to Gyeonghoeru in Gyeongbokgung Palace. These actions sparked strong criticism for "private misuse." The controversy further intensified with issues related to the throne in Geunjeongjeon Hall, a national treasure, leading to even greater public backlash.
At the time, National Heritage Administration Commissioner Heo Min acknowledged, "This was a private act that no citizen can understand, and a privilege that no one should receive," and bowed his head in apology. The current amendment is a practical implementation of his earlier promise to "strictly revise the regulations and ensure that procedures are not neglected." Last year, the Palace and Royal Tombs Heritage Division had already deleted the exception clause that deemed visits by heads of state as automatically approved, and with this measure, it is now seen as a definitive end to the practice of those in power arbitrarily using cultural heritage sites.
The amendment also addresses loopholes in the current regulations. It clearly defines terms such as "special opening" and "special viewing," which had previously been used interchangeably, to reduce confusion, and it specifies safety management guidelines that must be followed when filming within palace and royal tomb heritage sites. In line with the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the "Act on the Preservation and Utilization of Cultural Heritage," it also stipulates that if a smoker is found within a non-smoking palace area, there is now a legal basis for suspending their visit or ordering them to leave.
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