New National Korean Literature Museum to Be More Public-Focused, Says Director Im Heon-young
Creatrip Team
6 months ago
Im Heon-young, the new director of the National Korean Literature Museum, pledged to transform the institution from a repository into an engaging public cultural space. At a press meeting one month after his inauguration, Im emphasized “popularizing literature” and said the museum should go beyond collecting and research to offer programs the whole nation can enjoy. The museum, established in 2019 under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is building a standalone facility in Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong District, Seoul, aiming to open in early next year. Key initiatives for the year include: a monthly honored author program (“Author of the Month”) to celebrate writers who shaped Korean literary history; “Korean Literature Trips,” linking literary festivals with regional tourism so people can encounter literature in daily life; and a Korean literature archival management system to eventually become a national literature heritage portal. Im, a literary critic and former head of the Institute for Research in Collaboration with the Nation (민족문제연구소), said his background in criticism will inform but not limit his role as museum director.
