K-Culture Boom Lifts National Museum Attendance to Unprecedented Levels

South Korea’s National Museum is expected to surpass 6 million annual visitors for the first time in its 80-year history, after recording 5.81 million visitors as of November 30, 2025. This milestone reflects the growing global interest in Korean culture, boosted by the museum’s successful “Muze” merchandise line and international attention from the animated film K-pop Demon Hunters.

The museum is now ranking among the world’s top cultural destinations, approaching institutions like the Louvre and the Vatican Museums. Since 1946, its collection has expanded from about 46,000 artifacts to nearly 440,000, strengthened further by major donations, including the Lee Kun-hee family’s gift of more than 21,000 works in 2021. Regional branches, such as the Gyeongju National Museum, also recorded millions of visitors, bringing the total national museum network attendance to 13.4 million this year.

Despite the strong growth, the museum still faces challenges such as limited exhibition space—with only 4 percent of items displayed—debates about possible admission fees, and the need for more digital and AI-based content. Director Yoo Hong-joon emphasized preparing the museum for the next century as a core center of Korean culture.

source : http://koreabizwire.com/k-culture-boom-lifts-national-museum-attendance-to-unprecedented-levels/339253

Comprehension

How many visitors had the National Museum recorded as of November 30, 2025?
What two major factors contributed to the museum’s rising popularity this year?
Which famous museums are mentioned as benchmarks for global visitor rankings?
How much has the museum’s artifact collection grown since 1946?
What are two major challenges the National Museum still faces despite its success?

Discussion

Why do you think Korean culture is becoming increasingly influential worldwide?
Should national museums charge admission fees, or should they remain free? Why?
How can museums use digital and AI technology to improve visitor experience?
What is the cultural importance of preserving and displaying historical artifacts?
Do you think regional museums are as important as major national museums? Explain.

Vocabulary

Milestone – An important event or achievement.
Merchandise – Products or goods sold to customers.
Donations – Items or money given to an institution as a gift.
Network – A group of connected organizations or locations.
Exhibition – A public display of art or historical objects.