Eunpyeong-gu "Lee Ho-chul Book Concert Hall" Registered as a Public Museum

Eligible to Participate in Government and Local Support Programs

On January 23, Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul (headed by District Mayor Kim Mikyung) announced that the Lee Ho-chul Book Concert Hall has been officially registered as a public museum following a review by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

This registration as a public museum was carried out in accordance with the “Promotion of Museums and Art Galleries Act” and the “Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Promotion of Museums and Art Galleries.” After passing the preliminary feasibility review for public museum establishment by the city in November last year, the museum received final approval following an on-site registration evaluation.

Permanent exhibition space at Lee Hochul Book Concert Hall. Provided by Eunpyeong District.

With this, the Lee Ho-chul Book Concert Hall has established a legal foundation to participate in government and local government support programs. It is expected to enable more stable operations, including the expansion of professional curatorial staff and the strengthening of functions for preservation and research of materials.

The Lee Ho-chul Book Concert Hall, which opened in November last year, was established to honor the literary legacy of the late Lee Ho-chul (1932-2016), a leading writer of division and peace literature who worked in Eunpyeong-gu for over 50 years. The museum holds a collection of over 4,000 items donated by his family, and from its opening until last month, approximately 35,000 visitors have attended.

Lee Ho-chul, originally from Wonsan in North Korea, moved south after the Korean War and debuted with the short story “Departure from Hometown.” He left a significant mark on modern Korean literature, receiving the Hyundai Literature Award for “Panmunjom” and the Dongin Literature Award for “Worn-Out Flesh.”

With its registration as a public museum, the Lee Ho-chul Book Concert Hall plans to expand its exhibition, educational, academic, and cultural programs, strengthening Eunpyeong-gu’s cultural identity as a regional literary center and complex cultural space. In particular, this year marks the 10th anniversary of Lee Ho-chul’s passing, and the museum plans to commemorate his literary spirit and the values of division and peace through special exhibitions and events.