PNU Museum's Deep Dilemma Over Barrier-Free Facilities

Pusan National University (PNU) Museum faces a dilemma over the installation of barrier-free facilities while pursuing designation as a National Registered Cultural Heritage site. Though ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities is essential, modifying the building could result in damage that may hinder the heritage registration process, making it difficult to proceed with changes.

On February 3rd, PNU Museum announced it is considering installing accessibility facilities in response to a request from PNU’s Disability Student Support Center.

The museum, which reopened in October 2024 after 16 months of renovation, still lacks accessibility facilities for individuals with disabilities. The exterior of the museum is entirely surrounded by stairs, making it impossible for wheelchair users to access any of the entrances, including the main entrance, the Gaonnarae entrance, and the back door. Inside, the 1st and 2nd floors of the main building are connected solely by stairs, making movement between floors inaccessible for wheelchair users. Newly constructed public buildings and public facilities built after July 2015 are required to obtain “Barrier-Free Certification,” but since the museum was built before then, it is not subject to this mandatory requirement.

The issue is that installing accessibility facilities, such as an elevator, may cause damage to the building’s interior and exterior. Since the museum is currently aiming for designation as a National Registered Cultural Heritage site, it needs to preserve its exterior appearance as much as possible. The museum, built and completed in 1955, played a significant historical role by receiving and storing 18,833 national treasures from the Busan Regional Government for about four years (reported by “Channel PNU” on May 3rd, 2024). If an elevator is installed on the exterior of the museum, altering the front façade, it could negatively affect the heritage registration process.

In particular, when the museum was originally designed in 1955, there were insufficient legal provisions regarding accessibility for individuals with disabilities. As a result, an elevator was not considered in the original building design, making it difficult to install one without damaging the structure. Moon Ju-Sik (Division of Facilities Management, Manager) stated, “To install an elevator at the back of the building while minimizing exterior damage, we would need to modify the existing exhibition space to secure a passage. However, there is no available space inside for an elevator.” “Unlike other two-story university buildings, such as Moonchang Hall, the Mechanical Technology Center, Engineering Building #7, and Engineering Building #5, PNU Museum is structurally more challenging.”

Regarding this, experts suggest that alternative accessibility solutions should be considered instead of elevators. Heo Yoo-Jin (Prof. Dept. of Architecture, PNU) proposed options such as installing a ramp on the 1st floor or providing electric stair-climbing wheelchairs and emphasized that “in this day and age, facilities for people with disabilities must be essential.”  In response, the Division of Facilities Management stated, “Ensuring accessibility for students with disabilities is undoubtedly a top priority. If elevator installation is not possible, we will consider various alternative solutions.” PNU Museum official also said, “We are actively seeking ways to address this issue without damaging the building.”

Reporter Oh Jeong-Rin

Translated by Seo Yoo-Jung