The Mangmyoru Pavilion, a building within the 14th-century Jongmyo Shrine compound that is ordinarily off-limits to the public / Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

Korea's national cultural heritage agency issued a public apology, Friday, for permitting first lady Kim Keon Hee to use Seoul's historic Jongmyo Shrine for personal use.

On Sept. 3, Kim allegedly hosted a private tea meeting at the Mangmyoru Pavilion, a structure within the 14th-century Jongmyo Shrine compound that is typically off-limits to the public, without following the proper approval procedures. It was also revealed that antique tables and chairs were brought in from nearby Gyeongbok and Changdeok Palaces for the gathering.

"We apologize for the controversy caused by the insufficient enforcement of regulations regarding venue approval for the event held at Mangmyoru," the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), the organization responsible for overseeing royal heritage sites, said.

Under the Regulations on Viewing of Royal Palaces and Tombs, the use of significant historic sites, such as palaces and shrines, requires committee approval through a formal application process. Exceptions are strictly limited to major state events, such as visits by foreign heads of state or government-hosted commemorative ceremonies.

No such procedure was adhered to for the first lady's private meeting.

The gathering, attended by six people, reportedly included Christopher Rothko, son of the late American Abstract Expressionist titan Mark Rothko. The first lady had organized a 2015 retrospective of the painter at the Seoul Arts Center during her tenure as head of the exhibition organizer Covana Contents.

Lee Jae-phil, director of the KHS' Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, admitted that Kim's hosting of the meeting at Mangmyoru "constitutes personal use" during a Dec. 20 emergency hearing held by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.

KHS chief Choi Eung-chon noted that Lee had consulted with the presidential office before authorizing the first lady's request and acknowledged, "At the time, we regarded it as a national event and followed customary practices. However, upon later review, we recognize that there was a lapse in judgment on our part."

During the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, Mangmyoru Pavilion was a place where kings would grieve and honor the memory of their forebears before attending ancestral rites. Plaques inscribed with commemorative poems were once hung under its eaves.

The King Uichin Commemorative Association, a local group founded by descendants of the Korean Empire's royal lineage, demanded a formal apology from Kim, stating that Jongmyo Shrine "is not her private cafe."

"Even Joseon kings would show respect with a reverent heart when visiting the shrine. It is not a place for an individual to bring palace furniture and casually banter," it added in its statement.