Museums and theaters set to reopen on Tuesday

Major state-run museums and theaters in Seoul including the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) and Seoul Arts Center will reopen their doors on Tuesday, as the government has slightly loosened..

The exhibition "After Every Winter Comes Spring"at the National Museum of Korea. [YONHAP]

Major state-run museums and theaters in Seoul including the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) and Seoul Arts Center will reopen their doors on Tuesday, as the government has slightly loosened social distancing regulations with a slowdown in the number of new Covid-19 cases.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said in a statement on Monday that 17 state-run cultural facilities in Seoul will resume accepting visitors from Tuesday. They have been closed since Dec. 8, amid growing concerns about the pandemic.

Accordingly, now art lovers can go to view the much-celebrated exhibition "After Every Winter Comes Spring" featuring National Treasure "Sehando" at the National Museum and exhibitions at the MMCA including “Korea Artist Prize 2020,” “Lee Seung Taek's Non-Art: The Inversive Act” and “Haegue Yang—O2 & H2O.”

The facilities to reopen also include the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Library of Korea.

The Culture Ministry also allowed seven national music, dance and theater companies such as the Korean National Ballet, the Korean Symphony Orchestra and the Korea National Opera to resume their on-site performances in Seoul, starting Tuesday.

Still, the facilities will be required to follow Level 2.5 social distancing guidelines currently in effect in the capital area. Under the guidelines, the facilities can only allow visitors of up to 30 percent of their capacities. Audience members at performance venues will also have to sit with empty seats between them.

BY MOON SO-YOUNG [symoon@joongang.co.kr]