Fire-damaged Hangeul Museum to reopen in October 2028
Officials inspect the National Hangeul Museum in Yongsan District, Seoul, Feb. 4. Korea Times photo by Park Si-mon
The National Hangeul Museum announced Tuesday it will remain closed for more than three years after a fire severely damaged the building earlier this year, with a reopening slated for late 2028.
The museum, dedicated to promoting the Korean alphabet of Hangeul, will undergo extensive restoration work before welcoming visitors again.
The fire, which began on Feb. 1 during ongoing construction to expand educational spaces and offices, caused significant damage to the building's interior.
A preliminary report submitted to Rep. Jin Jong-oh of the main opposition People Power Party indicated widespread damage, with the third floor being the most affected.
A Hangeul-themed playground for children and a hallway section were "completely burned," while a special exhibition hall suffered damage from heat, dust and soot, according to the museum.
The fire, which is presumed to have been sparked during work near a steel staircase, led to the rescue of two workers and the evacuation of four others. One firefighter was also injured during the extinguishing process.
In the immediate aftermath, museum staff urgently moved 26 key artifacts to the nearby National Museum of Korea to prevent further damage. The museum later relocated its entire collection of more than 25,900 items, or about 90,000 artifacts, to other national museums for safekeeping.
While the museum stated that its artifacts were not harmed, some water damage was found in parts of a first-floor hallway and a storage room ceiling and floor.
"I am sorry to the public for the long-term closure which has become unavoidable due to the fire restoration work," Kang Jeong-won, the museum's director, in a statement, told reporters Tuesday. He added that the museum would continue its research and educational functions during the closure and ensure the restoration proceeds without any issue.