A bird’s-eye view of the National Museum of Korean Literature under construction in Jingwan-dong, northwestern Seoul, provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Construction of the country’s first national museum dedicated to Korean literature will begin Monday in Seoul, with plans to complete it by late 2026, the culture ministry announced.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the National Museum of Korean Literature will take place on the construction site in the northwestern neighborhood of Jingwan-dong and will be attended by Culture Minister Yu In-chon.
Spanning 14,993 square meters and four stories, including two basement levels, the museum is designed around the theme of “scenery of a village,” intended to complement the natural backdrop of Mount Bukhan. The project is expected to cost 71.6 billion won (US$52.8 million).
The facility will include a permanent exhibition hall that explores the history and future of Korean literature, alongside spaces for special exhibitions, an outdoor garden, educational and interactive areas, a multipurpose auditorium, and storage.
Minister Yu will also meet with literary leaders following the ceremony to discuss enhancing support for the literature and translation sectors, with plans for establishing a Korean literature festival and initiatives to boost literary programs.
Yu expressed optimism about the museum’s potential impact.
“With the construction of the National Museum of Korean Literature, a long-standing aspiration of the literary community, the government will push for necessary policies to promote the Korean literature at every stage of the creative process and across all sectors of the industry,” Yu said in a press release.
“We hope the literary museum will become a hub for Korean literature, fostering brisk exchanges among writers, critics, and local literature museums nationwide and readers.”
(Yonhap)
