'Korea's National Museum,' Now the World's Third Largest, to Extend Opening Hours for Peak Summer Vacation Season

Open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from July 27 to August 17
For 22 peak days, opening 30 minutes earlier and closing 30 minutes later

The National Museum of Korea will extend its opening hours by one hour a day during the peak summer vacation season.

A poster titled "How to Enjoy the World's Third Largest National Museum More Comfortably" provided by the National Museum of Korea to help disperse visitors during the peak summer vacation period. National Museum of Korea

On July 15, the National Museum of Korea announced that from July 27 to August 17, it will operate 22 days with its opening hours extended by one hour compared to usual. Accordingly, during this period, the museum will open 30 minutes earlier at 9:00 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m., and close 30 minutes later at 6:00 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m.

This measure is designed to accommodate the expected increase in visitors during the peak season, which coincides with summer break and the vacation period. In the first half of this year, the National Museum of Korea welcomed 3,795,000 visitors, a 39.7% increase compared to 2,716,000 in the same period last year. The museum expects visitor demand to peak from the end of July through the Liberation Day holiday, and aims to disperse guests concentrated in certain time slots, thereby reducing wait times.

However, late-night opening hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays will remain unchanged, with the museum staying open until 9:00 p.m. The museum will announce the adjusted hours through its website, social media channels, and on-site banners starting July 16.

The museum will also strengthen guidance measures to alleviate congestion. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation due to the museum's limited parking space, and are advised to start their tour with the second and third floor exhibition halls rather than the busier first floor. Additional guidance suggests preparing a bottle of water in advance and refraining from bringing in food or drinks other than water to protect the artifacts and ensure visitor safety.

Yoo Hongjun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, said, "I hope this extension of opening hours will provide students on summer vacation and the general public with an enjoyable and meaningful opportunity to experience traditional culture," adding, "We will continue to prioritize visitor convenience and strive to provide high-quality services."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.