An architectural model of the winning design for the national cultural landmark in Songhyeon-dong, central Seoul, which will house late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee's donated art collection / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism finalized plans to create a cultural facility in Seoul to serve as the permanent home for the extensive art collection donated by the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee's family.

The initiative is part of the ministry's 2024-2028 Basic Plan for Promoting Museums and Art Galleries, unveiled Thursday.

A 9,787-square-meter facility will be constructed by 2028 in Songhyeon-dong, an area near Gyeongbok Palace in the heart of Seoul. The new space will house the entire collection of 23,181 artifacts and artworks donated by the family of Lee to state-run museums in 2021, a gesture made to offset a significant inheritance tax.

The treasures from Lee's estate date from the Neolithic Age through to the 20th century and include a rich variety of artifacts: paintings, earthenware, ceramics, metalwork, manuscripts, calligraphy, wooden furniture and stone sculptures.

The Songhyeon-dong museum will "serve as a storage and exhibition space to systematically manage these donated masterpieces," the ministry said in its statement.

The four-year plan also includes expanding national and public museum facilities beyond the greater Seoul area.

Sejong City, an administrative hub, is witnessing the continued expansion of the National Museum Complex of Korea. By 2028, the complex will welcome several new institutions, including the National Design Museum, the Urbanism and Architecture Museum, the National Archives Museum and the Digital Cultural Heritage Center, complementing the existing National Children's Museum. Additionally, by 2030, the National Folk Museum is set to relocate to this growing cultural center.

In Paju, Gyeonggi Province, a museum storage cluster will be constructed to address the severe shortage of in-house space across state-run institutions. The main Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, is currently operating at 87.93 percent of its storage capacity. In contrast, the National Hangeul Museum has surpassed its capacity, operating at 125 percent. Meanwhile, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History does not have any dedicated storage facilities at all.

The culture ministry also announced initiatives to continue providing tailored support for the operation of Korean galleries within international museums.

The government is prioritizing institutions that house Korean cultural heritage by supporting the establishment and renovation of Korean galleries. Additionally, efforts are underway to organize exhibitions that highlight the country's rich cultural legacy.

This support may involve short-term efforts such as publishing relevant catalogues and funding conservation treatments for artifacts. The government is also focusing on organizing special exhibitions, creating immersive digital displays, dispatching expert personnel and facilitating artifact loans as part of its medium- to long-term initiatives.

At present, the ministry is supporting 13 institutions across six countries, including the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington D.C. and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as part of these ongoing initiatives.