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The Republic of Korea has enacted several pieces of legislation related to the protection of cultural properties, including the Protection of Cultural Properties Act (1982), the Preservation of Traditional Buildings Act (1984), the Preservation of Traditional Temples Act (1987), and the Law for the Promotion of Museums and Art Galleries (1991), among others.

Based on this legislation, the Republic of Korea's government secures a large amount of its budget to manage museums, protect tangible and intangible cultural properties, and save species which are facing extinction. In 1997, the Korean government spent a total of 108 billion won (approximately 87.37 billion yen) for the preservation of cultural heritage, approximately 69.8 billion won (approximately 56.47 billion yen) for the management of the National Museum, and about 24.9 billion won (about 20.14 billion yen) for the management of the National Folk Museum.

As of 1997, the Republic of Korea has a total of 174 museums, consisting of 23 national museums, 24 public museums, 47 private museums, and 80 university museums.

The Cultural Properties Administration is officially responsible for designating cultural properties. The Cultural Properties Administration is also responsible for the protection of cultural properties, the management, research, excavation, and renovation of cultural heritage, and the international exchange of cultural properties. Local governments designate cultural properties at the community level as well.

In 1995, the national government designated 2,514 cultural properties, including 286 national treasures. Local governments designated 2,929 cultural properties in the same year.