Female Louvre Director Appointed by Macron Resigns at Last...How Far Will the Fallout from the 'Apollo Gallery Theft' Go?

Security and operational vulnerabilities laid bare after theft
Leaks, strikes, and ticket fraud add to mounting woes
Comprehensive renovation project within the Louvre gains momentum

Laurence des Cars, director of the Louvre Museum in France, where a large-scale jewelry theft took place in October last year, has ultimately resigned after coming under mounting pressure to step down.

On the 25th, Yonhap News reported, citing the French daily Le Monde and other outlets, that des Cars submitted her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day, and that President Macron accepted it. The Elys?e Palace explained the background to her resignation by saying that "the museum needs new momentum," pointing to the need to strengthen security, modernize the institution, and successfully carry out the "Louvre-Renaissance" project.

Laurence des Cars, director of the Louvre Museum. She is the first woman director of the Louvre directly appointed by President Macron, who took office in September 2021. AP Yonhap News.

Des Cars is the first woman to serve as director of the Louvre, having been personally appointed by President Macron, who took office in September 2021. However, she has faced calls to resign since October 19 last year, when thieves stole eight pieces of royal treasure from the Apollo Gallery inside the Louvre and fled. According to investigators, the perpetrators took advantage of the crowded period just before closing time to break in, and it was found that some alarm devices did not function properly. An international joint investigation was launched immediately after the incident, and indications emerged that part of the stolen items had been distributed overseas, but it has not been confirmed whether they have been fully recovered.

Des Cars expressed her intention to resign through the Ministry of Culture right after the incident, but President Macron is said to have rejected it at the time. He reportedly called her several times personally, emphasizing that the momentum behind the renovation drive must not be weakened. However, criticism of the museum’s overall operations grew as additional problems surfaced, including leaks in the exhibition halls, a series of staff strikes, and a ticket fraud case involving an internal employee. Some observers also say that, with local elections coming up next month, the political burden related to cultural administration has spread across the political arena.

The 'Louvre-Renaissance' project recently announced by President Macron is a comprehensive renovation plan that includes replacing aging facilities, redesigning visitor circulation routes, and expanding digital exhibitions. AP Yonhap News

Since the incident, the government and the museum have been pursuing measures to strengthen security, including increasing nighttime security staff, introducing high-performance closed-circuit (CC) TV and artificial intelligence-based surveillance systems, and reinforcing protective equipment for major exhibits. In addition, in order to cover the cost of the large-scale renovation, they are reportedly considering raising admission fees for foreign tourists. The "Louvre-Renaissance" project announced by President Macron is a comprehensive overhaul plan that includes replacing aging facilities, redesigning visitor circulation, and expanding digital exhibitions.

Some, however, take a skeptical view of this project. Alexandre Portier, a Republican member of parliament who led the Louvre security investigation committee, told Le Monde, "Changing the pilot does not change the way the plane flies," adding, "Systemic defects require systemic responses. You have to change the software." As a result, international attention is now focused on whether this resignation will end as a mere personnel reshuffle, or become a turning point for overhauling the Louvre’s overall operating system.