Culture minister vows thorough audit of former National Museum chief amid exhibit controversy

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young has signaled a sweeping audit of former National Museum of Korea Director Yoo Hong-june, who stepped down amid controversy over the display and verification of privately owned artifacts.

Speaking at a comprehensive national audit of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on Friday, Choi said the ministry would not limit its review to the misuse of official authority. "We will conduct a full audit of every procedure involved in managing and verifying the exhibits that became the subject of this controversy," she said, responding to People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Yeon-wook's call for a broad investigation into Yoo.

When Jeong asked whether she was at least confirming an audit using official authority, Choi said yes. "I believe the honor and public trust the National Museum of Korea has built over many years have been damaged by this incident," she said. "I deeply regret that, and we will restore that trust through a thorough audit."

The National Museum of Korea drew criticism after a special exhibition that opened in July — titled "Woori-deul-ui Bapsang," a table-setting exhibition — displayed a piece of calligraphy by pro-Japanese collaborator Park Jung-yang (1874–1959) while misidentifying it as the work of independence activist Park Won-geun (1912–1950).

The controversy deepened when it emerged that Yoo had purchased the calligraphy in 2019 through an online auction for 50,000 won ($38), and that he had recommended it as an exhibit item roughly two months before the show opened.

Facing sharp criticism, Yoo announced his resignation Wednesday, saying he had concluded "that stepping down from the director's post is the right course of action in order to restore the museum's damaged reputation." Cheong Wa Dae accepted his resignation immediately.

Separately, Choi rebuffed claims by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seung-su that the ministry had hastily organized overseas cultural events for first lady Kim Hye-kyung. "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism does not host events for the first lady," she said.

Choi said the ministry plans cultural events to coincide with presidential overseas trips, when interest in South Korea runs particularly high. "Interest in K-culture is very strong worldwide, and when the president visits a country, attention to Korea reaches a peak — we plan cultural events to match that moment," she said. "It is only natural that the first lady, who accompanies the president on state visits, would attend those events. I don't understand why that is being treated as a problem."

On the allegation that some overseas cultural events attended by the first lady were hastily arranged through sole-source contracts, Choi said the nature of presidential overseas trips makes advance planning difficult. "Because of the characteristics of presidential state visits, it is hard to plan events far in advance. That is why the ministry uses its budget and awards sole-source contracts to organize them on short notice," she said. "I find it hard to accept the criticism that the events were rushed."