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| Youn Bum-mo, the former director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA), resigned from his post on April 18. Courtesy of MMCA |
By Park Han-sol
Youn Bum-mo, who has helmed the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) since 2019, has officially stepped down as director without completing his three-year term, which was set to last until early 2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, April 18.
The announcement came eight days after he was reported to have tendered his resignation to Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon.
Youn, a liberal art critic, historian and former professor at Dongguk University, was first named the director of the national art institution in 2019 and reappointed in February 2022.
He spent his first three-year term during the former progressive Moon Jae-in administration. However, his reappointment was viewed as a potential act of nepotism by some political detractors as it took place shortly before the presidential election, which resulted in the victory of conservative Yoon Suk Yeol.
It was further speculated that the political pressure against the director was mounting when the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism unprecedentedly released an audit report on the MMCA last January.
The report, based on the special audit conducted last year from Oct. 24 to Dec. 1, stated it had found 16 instances of illegal or unfair practices under its watch. The cases included the museum's failure to address alleged workplace harassment and comply with the designated procedures for purchasing artworks.
During his time at the office, Youn drew criticism for organizing several shows from an allegedly political angle. But under his leadership, the museum also handled the donation of late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee's massive art collection and celebrated the relighting of video art visionary Nam June Paik's largest video tower "The More, The Better" after a three-year restoration.
Following Youn's resignation, the Ministry of Personnel Management will issue a call for applications for the vacant post next month. The new director will start their full three-year term once appointed. Park Jong-dal, MMCA's director general for planning and general management, will act as the interim director in the meantime.
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