Woodsik Woo, Director of the National Incheon Maritime Museum: "Aiming for 4 Million Cumulative Visitors by 2029"

At the Second Anniversary Press Briefing in Busan

"Aiming to Become a Leading Hub of K-Maritime Culture"

Woodsik Woo, Director of the National Incheon Maritime Museum, announced on the 14th that the museum aims to become a world-class maritime museum by reaching a cumulative total of 4 million visitors by 2029.

At a press briefing held in Busan on this day, Director Woo stated, "Marking the museum's second anniversary, we will strive to become a leading hub of K-maritime culture." The National Incheon Maritime Museum was established as a corporation in May 2024 and officially opened its doors in December of the same year.

Woon Dongsik, Director of the National Incheon Maritime Museum, is explaining future plans at a press conference held in Busan on the 14th. National Incheon Maritime Museum

The National Incheon Maritime Museum is the first national maritime cultural facility in the Seoul metropolitan area. Under the theme of “Sea of Exchange, Beginning of Connection,” the museum has promoted the spread of maritime culture and the establishment of a foundation for public cultural services over the past two years through exhibitions, education, research, and cultural events in various fields.

As a result, the museum has welcomed a cumulative total of 840,000 visitors since its opening, establishing itself as a representative maritime cultural space in the metropolitan area. Director Woo emphasized, "Moving forward, the museum will serve as a hub leading K-maritime culture by introducing global maritime civilizations to Korea," and added, "We will expand our role in promoting Korea’s maritime culture and industrial heritage to the world."

This August, the museum plans to host its first international exchange exhibition highlighting world maritime civilizations, titled "Greece: The Great Civilization Shaped by the Sea." This exhibition is organized to commemorate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Greece. Approximately 200 national-treasure-level artifacts from the National Museum of Greece—including the Mask of Agamemnon, bronze helmets, and the trireme ram used in the Battle of Salamis—will be presented to Korean audiences.

Additionally, the museum will actively pursue a series of themed exhibitions on various maritime topics. In May, it plans to hold a special exhibition titled "Odyssey," where visitors can experience the journey of the Trojan War hero Odysseus. In the second half of the year, another special exhibition, "Sea Table Through the Four Seasons," will focus on maritime food culture.

The museum is also strengthening its function as an academic platform through specialized investigations and research on maritime industrial heritage. Based on research in sectors such as distant-water fishing, shipbuilding, and shipping, the museum aims to establish a solid foundation for its exhibitions and educational content, thereby securing a unique competitive edge. Utilizing this foundation, the museum plans to host a special exhibition on the "70th Anniversary of the Distant-Water Industry" in 2027 and another on the "Shipbuilding Industry" in 2028. Furthermore, the museum will expand cultural and educational programs in collaboration with the local community. By partnering with relevant organizations and local artists, the museum intends to develop new maritime education content and cultural arts programs, as well as expand initiatives for the culturally marginalized and seniors to enhance accessibility and the public nature of maritime culture and education.

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