South Korean cultural heritage sites face curator shortages and equipment failures

A significant shortage of professional curatorial staff has been identified at major cultural heritage storage sites across South Korea. According to data provided by the Korea Heritage Service to Representative Cho Kye-won of the Democratic Party, 38 out of 64 sites (59.4%) lack dedicated curators as of August. Notably, 89.5% of these unstaffed locations have no history of ever employing such professionals.

The Korea Heritage Service attributed the shortage to poor accessibility at sites like temples and high turnover rates caused by inadequate working conditions and low pay. In some instances, staff hired through support programs resigned shortly after starting.

In addition to staffing issues, critical maintenance gaps were found in climate control systems. Seven facilities reported broken temperature and humidity control units, with four remaining unrepaired due to budget shortages. Some equipment has been non-functional since 2023, with repairs for certain sites not scheduled until 2027. Representative Cho emphasized the need for a more robust support system to ensure both professional stability and the continuous maintenance of preservation facilities.