Seoul orders 'Korea Museum' exhibiting Chinese artifacts to close

A private museum in Seoul's Eunpyeong Hanok Village, operating under the name 'Korea Museum,' has been ordered to cease operations by the local district office. The district cited zoning regulations, stating the building is designated for neighborhood commercial facilities and cannot be used as a museum or cultural venue.

The museum, which had planned to exhibit Chinese artifacts, including replicas of the Terracotta Army, faced controversy before its planned April opening. Concerns were raised that its location within the traditional Hanok Village could mislead tourists and citizens into believing it was a Korean cultural exhibition space.

In response to the controversy, the Eunpyeong District Office clarified that the 'Korea Museum' is an unregistered private museum with no affiliation with the district. The building was also registered as an illegal structure on August 8th due to unauthorized changes in use and damage to landscaping.

The district office is considering imposing an enforcement penalty if the museum fails to remove its signage and exhibits by mid-next month. The museum's planned exhibition of Chinese artifacts in a traditional Korean village setting had sparked public debate.