The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST) and the National Museum of Korean Literature (Director MOON Chung Hee, NMKL) held a groundbreaking ceremony in Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on May 20 (Mon). Minister YU attended the ceremony with leaders of Korean literature organizations, literary materials donors, and local residents to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new museum. After the ceremony, Minister YU sat down with key figures of the literary community at the Eunpyeong History & Hanok Museum to discuss ways to promote translation and support the development of Korean literature.

Construction of the New Museum Complex Finally Begins, Scheduled for Opening in the Second Half of 2026

After enacting the Literature Promotion Act in 2016, the MCST has implemented policies to build and operate a new complex for the NMKL, support the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, and promote the creation and enjoyment of literary works. The new complex is scheduled to be built at 175 Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, with a total floor area of 14,993 m², a site area of 13,248 m², 2 underground floors, and 2 above ground floors. The new museum is scheduled for opening in the second half of 2026. The building consists of a permanent exhibition room and a special exhibition room outlining the past, present, and future of Korean literature, an outdoor garden where visitors can relax, education/experience spaces, a multipurpose auditorium, and a storage. In particular, the new complex is expected to provide a special experience to visitors by designing the exterior of the building based on the “image of a village” in a way that the exterior harmoniously blends with the view of Bukhansan Mountain from the museum entrance.

Discussed Preparation Plans for the Opening of the Museum and Ways to Promote and Globalize Korean Literature

At the on-site meeting with the literary community, attendees discussed the vision of the NMKL, plans for opening and exhibitions going forward, and measures to support Korean literature and its translation. The meeting was joined by officials from literary organizations such as the PEN Korean Centre, Korean Writers’ Association, Korea Novelist Association, Society of Korean Poets, Korea Sijo Association, Korea Modern Poets Association, Korean Literature House Association, and Korea Literary Critics Association, as well as officials from the Literature Translation Institute of Korea and other personnel related to literary translation.

After the groundbreaking ceremony, the NMKL launched the preparation work by forming and operating an advisory group comprised of experts in related fields, including construction, exhibition space operation and organization, literary materials, and exhibition contents, and continuously developing exhibition contents through research on authors and works.

Prior to this meeting, the MCST collected opinions from the literature and translation domains by holding two meetings with the literature community and two other meetings with translation community between April and May. At this meeting, attendees discussed ways to support the literature community, including measures derived from the previous meetings. The measures include strengthening support for literary magazines and critical journals to promote literary diversity; supporting the publication of literary magazines for young writers; increasing domestic and international demand for literature; holding the (tentatively named) Korea Literature Festival to expand contact points; revitalizing literary programs such as the children and youth literature week and literary stages, cooperation programs with local literature museums, literary exhibitions, and performing arts events during the festival; holding Korean Literature Day events at Korean Cultural Centers overseas and providing Korean literature books to expand overseas readership for Korean literature; opening advanced translation courses linked to universities and King Sejong Institutes; and providing translators and legal support for contract signing.

Minister YU stated, “Starting with the groundbreaking ceremony for the NMKL, which has been a long-awaited project in the literary world, we will provide the necessary support for each stage and subject, including the creation, presentation, and publication, to promote Korean literature. I hope that the NMKL becomes a central institution and space for Korean literature where writers, critics, local literary museums, and readers across the country can actively interact with one another.”