President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook on July 30 visit the National Museum of Korea in Seoul to see the exhibition "The New National Treasures of Korea 2017-2019." (Yonhap News)

By Lee Hana

President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook on July 30 visited the National Museum of Korea in Seoul to see the exhibition "The New National Treasures of Korea 2017-2019."

This was the presidential couple's first visit to a cultural facility since the first domestic case of COVID-19 was reported on Jan. 20.

The visit followed the decision to reopen national cultural facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area from July 22. All such venues had been temporarily closed in late May due to the coronavirus.

The couple arrived at the museum wearing masks, and began their visit by inspecting the museum's quarantine and social distancing measures such as restricting the number of visitors, conducting temperature checks, sanitizing of hands and wearing masks within the facility.

Once inside the museum after following these guidelines, the couple looked at the exhibition alongside other visitors.

President Moon, while viewing a work by painter Chusa Kim Jeong-hui of the late Joseon Dynasty, asked an art scholar questions like, "How did painters like Kim enjoy this work?" and "Did palaces have exhibition halls like this during the Joseon era?"

The exhibition, which explores works under the theme "Preserving History, Artistic Expression and Opening the Heart," showcases 83 of 157 pieces designated national treasures from 2017-19. Twelve of the 83 are national treasures and 71 designated treasures.

To run until Sept. 27, the exhibition will admit visitors by reservation only to restrict their number and prevent infections.

hlee10@korea.kr