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About us

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea started as a small gallery in Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1969 and moved to Seokjojeon, Deoksugung Palace in 1973. In 1986, the MMCA revealed its first international standard exhibition facilities, including the outdoor sculpture garden in Gwacheon, opening a new chapter in Korean art culture. In 1998, the MMCA Deoksugung opened at the West Wing of Seokjojeon situated in the center of Seoul and began offering specialized curations of modern and contemporary art. In November 2013, the MMCA Seoul was established in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul at the old Defense Security Command site. With an exhibition gallery, a project gallery, a theater, and a multipurpose hall, it presents Korean cultural values of the past, the present, and the future through various programs. In 2018, an abandoned tobacco manufacturing plant in Chungcheongbuk-do was renovated into MMCA Cheongju, now on its way to becoming a new art hotspot in central Korea. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the MMCA held a commemorative ceremony in 2019 and proclaimed the vision to become an open museum that shares art culture with the world.

2020

  • Jan. 7 Reorganized its structure

    • 1 Group, 1 Office, 7 Departments, and 6 Teams reorganized into 1 Group, 1 Office, 10 Departments, and 2 Teams
    • Administration & Maintenance Department, Planning & General Management Department, Conservation & Art Bank Department, PR & Customer Service Department, Collection Storage Control Team, Exhibition-1 Department, Exhibition-2 Department, Collection Management Department, Education & Culture Department, Collection and Archive Department, Research & Publication Department, and Exhibition-3 Team

  • Jun. 9 Reorganized its structure (renamed sub-department units)

    • 1 Group, 1 Office, 7 Departments, and 6 Teams reorganized into 1 Group, 1 Office, 10 Departments, and 2 Teams
    • Administration Support Department, Planning & General Management Department, Conservation & Art Bank Department, PR & Customer Service Department, Collection Storage Control Team, Art Policy Department, Contemporary Art-1 Department, Contemporary Art-2 Department, Collection Management Department, Museum Education Department, Collection and Archive Department, and Modern Art Team

2019

  • Oct. 16 Celebrated its 50th anniversary

2018

  • Dec. 31 Opened MMCA Cheongju and reorganized its structure

    • 1 Group, 1 Office, 6 Departments, and 5 Teams reorganized into 1 Group, 1 Office, 7 Departments, and 6 Teams
    • Installed Collection Storage Control Team and Collection and Archive Department

2017

  • Feb. 2 Reorganized its structure

    • 1 Group, 2 Divisions, 2 Offices, 9 Departments, and Teams reorganized into 1 Group, 6 Offices, and 5 Teams
    • Administration & Maintenance Department, Planning & General Management Department, Conservation & Art Bank Department, Customer Support Team, Communication Team, Exhibition-1 Department, Collection Management Department, Education & Culture Department, Exhibition-2 Team, Exhibition-3 Team, and Research & Publication Team

2013

  • Nov. 12 Opened MMCA Seoul and reorganized its structure

    • 1 Group, 7 Teams, and 1 Exhibition Center reorganized into 1 Group, 1 Division, 2 Offices, and 9 Departments, and Teams and installed MMCA Seoul Operation Division
    • Administration & Maintenance Department, Business Development Department, Conservation & Art Bank Department, Curation-1 Office, Curation-2 Office, MMCA Seoul Operation Division (Operational Support Team, Exhibition Planning-1 Team, Exhibition Planning-2 Team and IT Service Team), MMCA Deoksugung Operation Team

2010

  • Jan. 14 Reorganized MMCA Seoul

    • 1 Group 3 Departments, 2 Offices and 1 Team reorganized to 1 Group, 8 Teams, and 1 Exhibition Center

  • Dec. 31 Reorganized its structure

    • 1 Group, 8 Teams and 1 Exhibition Center reorganized into 1 Group, 7 Teams and 1 Exhibition Center
    • Administration & Maintenance Team, Business Development Team, Conservation & Art Bank Team, MMCA Seoul Preparation Team, Curation-1 Team, Curation-2 Team, Education & Creation Studio Team, MMCA Deoksugung Operation Team

2006

  • Jan. 1 Acquired Executive Agency status

  • Jan. 5 Reorganized its structure

    • Executive Office changed to Planning and Operation Group
    • Curation Office divided into four teams – Research Team, Exhibition Planning & Operation Team, PR & Marketing Team, Care & Conservation Team

  • May 16 Reorganized its structure

    • Relocated PR and Marketing Team from Curation Office to be under direct supervision of the Director
    • Installed Care and Conservation Office

2004

  • Nov. 18 Reorganized its structure

    • Installed Museum Policy Department

2002

  • May 27 Reorganized MMCA Deoksugung

1998

  • Dec. 1 Opened MMCA Deoksugung

1986

  • Aug. 18 Reorganized its structure

    • Relocated Administration Dept., Exhibition Dept., and Liaison and Education Dept. to be under the supervision of Executive Office (installed Administration Dept. and Liaison and Education Dept.)

1973

  • Jul. 5 Relocated its headquarters to Deoksugung Seokjojeon

1969

  • Aug. 23 Organized the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea

  • Oct. 20 Opened in Gyeongbokgung