Audit to cover Yu Hong-jun’s “self-submission” as ministry reviews exhibition management and verification procedures [2026 Parliamentary Audit]

[Financial News] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it would audit exhibition management and verification procedures across the board, including the controversy over former National Museum of Korea Director Yu Hong-jun’s submission of items from his personal collection.
At a plenary audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other institutions by the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the 23rd, People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Yeon-uk said the museum had excluded the submission and exhibition of items from former Director Yu’s collection when requesting an audit by the ministry.
According to Jeong, the audit request covered only two matters: the donation process for the “stone tiger” donated by the former director’s spouse and the selection process for a new café operator. He called for an investigation into the appropriateness of the process by which a museum director’s personal collection was exhibited, and for rules to prevent conflicts of interest among employees of national and public museums and art museums to be strengthened.
In response, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young said, “I will audit all of these procedures, including the management and verification of the collection items and exhibits that have become an issue this time.” He added, “I will review matters across the board again and come up with alternatives.”
Minister Choi also expressed regret, saying, “I believe the honor the National Museum of Korea has built up over many years and the public’s trust in it have been damaged.” He also conveyed his intention to restore trust through a thorough audit.
The controversy arose from an ink calligraphy work included in the special exhibition “The Korean Table: Food, Nature, and Life,” which opened in July. The work, which the museum had identified as writing by patriotic martyr Park Won-geun, was confirmed to be by Park Jung-yang, a pro-Japanese collaborator.
The controversy intensified after it emerged that the calligraphy work was from former Director Yu’s personal collection and that he himself had recommended it for the exhibition. Yu took responsibility and announced his resignation on the 21st, which the Blue House accepted.
[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter