A branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the United Kingdom’s leading museum of decorative arts, will be established in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul.
 
On January 16, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation on the establishment of a cultural facility in Dongjak-gu was signed at the V&A Museum in London, attended by key officials including Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, and Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A Museum.

Founded in 1852, the V&A Museum, a British national museum, is one of the world’s leading institutions representing decorative arts, crafts, and design. With a collection of over 2.8 million objects, it serves not only as a traditional exhibition space but also as a cultural platform encompassing education, research, and industry.
 
Dongjak-gu stated that specific details—including the scale of the branch museum and spatial planning—will be finalized through continued consultation with the V&A during the design process, prior to signing the final agreement.

Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, stated, “Bringing a branch of the V&A Museum to Korea and to Dongjak-gu is a strategic decision to place world-class cultural and artistic assets at the heart of the city.” He added, “Through this initiative, we expect Seoul—together with the National Museum of Korea—to foster an environment similar to London, where citizens can encounter globally renowned exhibitions and educational programs in their everyday lives.”

References

• 동작구청 보도자료 (Dongjak-gu Office Press Release)