SEOUL, April 9 (Korea Bizwire) — The National Folk Museum of Korea is set to undergo a significant transformation as it prepares to introduce a new exhibition space dedicated to global folk cultures and traditions. The museum unveiled its plans on Tuesday during a “News Brunch with the Director” event, outlining a roadmap to reposition itself as a cultural gateway to the world.
At the heart of this vision is the creation of the World Folk Hall, slated to open in the second half of 2026. The new space will spotlight everyday life, cultural practices, and diasporic communities around the globe, shifting the museum’s traditional focus from domestic to international narratives.
“Understanding diverse global cultures is essential for Korea to establish itself as a central cultural hub on the world stage,” said museum director Jang Sang-hoon, reiterating his commitment to broadening the museum’s scope beyond Korean culture.
The World Folk Hall will be developed by reconfiguring the existing permanent exhibition “Today’s Koreans,” currently housed in Exhibition Hall 1. The reimagined space will incorporate over 15,800 artifacts the museum has collected from around the world, presenting both the universal and the particular aspects of human culture.
In addition to static displays, the museum will introduce immersive and participatory programs. On May 4–5, in celebration of Children’s Day, the museum will host a hands-on global folk festival in collaboration with 13 embassies and foreign cultural centers in Korea, offering visitors the opportunity to experience traditional games and customs from various countries.
A new educational initiative, the World Culture Box, will also replace the previous Asia-focused Multicultural Package, reflecting a more expansive international outlook. Plans are underway to deepen collaboration with overseas institutions specializing in folklore and anthropology.
The museum will continue its focus on Korean folk traditions through thematic exhibitions in 2025, including special showcases on photography studios and commemorations in May, and an in-depth exhibition on childbirth beginning in November. A commemorative video archive exhibit marking the 80th anniversary of Korean Liberation will also open at the Paju branch.
Looking further ahead, the museum is advancing preparations for its relocation from Gyeongbokgung Palace to the Sejong area. The basic architectural design will be finalized this year, with construction scheduled between 2027 and 2030. The new facility, spanning over 23,000 square meters within the national museum complex’s second zone, is expected to open in 2031.
Reaffirming its new direction, the museum stated: “Our vision is to become a ‘window to the world,’ a space for mutual cultural understanding that bridges Korea with the global community.”
In 2024, the museum welcomed a total of 1.44 million visitors, including more than 665,000 international guests—a sharp increase of over 200,000 compared to 2023.
Image credit: The National Folk Museum of Korea, Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
