The 'Museum x Wander' program, a key initiative of '2026 Museum & Gallery Week' organized by the Korean Museum Association, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and ICOM Korea, successfully concluded its month-long run in May. This unique program offered local museum tours across four distinct regions – Seoul, Gongju, Gyeongju, and Jeju – significantly broadening cultural access beyond the capital area and fostering cultural diversity nationwide. Participants, accompanied by expert guides, experienced an unparalleled opportunity to deeply engage with each region's rich history and cultural heritage.
'Museum x Wander': A Cultural Bridge Connecting the Nation
The Korean Museum Association announced the successful conclusion of the 'Museum x Wander' program, a core component of the '2026 Museum & Gallery Week.' This initiative, jointly spearheaded by the association, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and ICOM Korea, ran throughout May across four major regions, with operations managed by Siwol E&C. The program served as a vital platform to re-evaluate and highlight the intrinsic value of local culture.
'Museum x Wander' is designed as a local museum tour that connects distinctive museums, art galleries, and cultural landmarks within each region. Its primary goal is to decentralize cultural engagement, extending opportunities beyond the Seoul metropolitan area and promoting cultural diversity nationwide. The program emphasizes rediscovering the unique cultural resources embedded in each locality, moving beyond conventional tourism. Participants were guided by experts on in-depth explorations of the historical, architectural, and artistic assets of each area.
This year's program featured a total of 12 sessions centered in four regions: Seoul, Gongju, Gyeongju, and Jeju. Over 200 participants, selected through advance applications, enjoyed these free regional cultural explorations. Throughout May, participants enthusiastically engaged in diverse cultural journeys encompassing the history, art, and architectural heritage of each region.
Tailored Cultural Expeditions Reflecting Local Characteristics
Each regional program was meticulously crafted to offer participants profound experiences centered on the unique historical and cultural context of its location. In Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom, the 'Gyeongju, A City Read Through History' program treated the entire city as a living historical museum, connecting major cultural heritage sites with relevant museums.
Jeju Island offered two distinct courses: 'Jeju, Museum Stroll – Encountering Jeju's Architecture,' which explored architectural culture harmoniously blended with the island's unique natural environment, and 'Jeju, Museum Stroll – Encountering Jeju's Museums,' which showcased a variety of museum spaces. These courses provided participants with a deep dive into Jeju's multifaceted cultural identity.
In Seoul's Seongbuk district, the 'Seoul, Korean Beauty Through Formative Art' course allowed participants to appreciate the aesthetics of Korean formative art by visiting art galleries and cultural landmarks imbued with the spirit of various artists. Finally, in Gongju, the second capital of the Baekje Kingdom, the 'Gongju, Following Traces of Ungjin Baekje' program offered a direct encounter with ancient Baekje culture through visits to sites like the National Gongju Museum and other Ungjin Baekje relics.
High Satisfaction and Contribution to Local Cultural Revitalization
The 'Museum x Wander' program has been highly praised for providing participants with a unique opportunity to directly experience the distinct history and culture of each region. Participant satisfaction and intent to re-participate exceeded 98%, with the insightful guidance of expert commentators frequently cited as the most significant factor contributing to this high satisfaction.
Beyond the positive feedback from participants, the program also played a crucial role in increasing visitor numbers to local museums and art galleries, thereby enhancing their value as cultural tourism assets. Park Jae-yeon, a curator at the Yudongryong Museum, commented, "Following last year, we were able to showcase architecture within the context of Jeju through 'Museum x Wander' this year as well," underscoring the program's contribution to promoting local cultural resources to a wider audience.
